One of the Hollywood Ten

One of the Hollywood Ten
Spanish theatrical poster
Directed by	Karl Francis
Written by	Karl Francis
Produced by	Karl Francis Juan Gordon Stuart Pollok
Starring	Jeff Goldblum Greta Scacchi
Cinematography	Nigel Walters
Edited by	John Richards
Music by	Víctor Reyes
Distributed by	Alibi Films International Buena Vista International(Spain)
Release date	29 September 2000(2000-09-29)(SSFF)
Running time	109 minutes
Countries	Spain United Kingdom
Language	English

One of the Hollywood Tenis a 2000 Spanish-Britishbio-picture.The film was written and directed byKarl Francis.

The drama focuses onscreenwriter/directorHerbert Bibermanand his efforts to make what would become the historicpolitical film,Salt of the Earthin 1954, produced withoutstudiobacking after he wasblacklistedfor belonging to theAmerican Communist Party.

Plot

The film opens at the 1937Academy Awards,where Biberman's wife,Gale Sondergaard(Greta Scacchi), wins the first ever "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar. Although the anti-Fascistsentiment in her acceptance speech gets her labelled a "commie" by some observers, she and Biberman (Jeff Goldblum) are placed under contract atWarner Bros.

He first comes under scrutiny more for hisJewishbackground than his political activities. Yet, withCold Warparanoiagrowing, a group of Hollywood directors and actors — Biberman, Sondergaard,Danny KayeandDalton Trumboamong them - are labelled Communists and questioned in front ofCongress.After refusing to testify against his colleagues, he is imprisoned in theFederal Correctional InstitutionatTexarkanafor a period of six months. Once released, he discovers his Hollywood career is finished.

Sondergaard suggests that her husband should direct a screenplay about the real-life 1950-51 strike waged byMexican-Americanminersagainst theEmpire Zinc CompanyinBayard,New Mexicowritten byMichael Wilson,also a victim of the blacklist and Biberman's brother Michael. She feels the lead role of Esperanza Quintero, who rallied the wives of the unemployed miners and urged them to support their husbands, is an ideal way to jump-start her stagnating career. Biberman agrees, but after meeting with the people who participated in the strike and being inspired by their passion, he decides all roles should be played by ethnic actors.

Because the film has no studio backing and most Hollywood players fear being associated with Biberman and the project, he eventually casts local residents fromGrant County, New Mexicoand members of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, Local 890 to fill most of the roles. Juan Chacón, the Union Local president, is cast as the fiery Ramon Quintero opposite Mexican actressRosaura Revueltasas his wife Esperanza.Will Geeris one of only five Hollywood actors to accept a role in the production.

TheFBIinvestigates the film's financing, attempts to steal the film'snegativesand, when they can't be located, tells film-processing labs not to work on the film, incites locals who are unhappy with the film crew's presence to set fire to many of the sets and eventually deports Revueltas on bogus charges. Biberman stands his ground and completes the film, using scenes with Revueltas that were shot in her native Mexico and then smuggled into the US.

Cast

• Jeff GoldblumasHerbert Biberman
• Greta ScacchiasGale Sondergaard
• Ángela MolinaasRosaura Revueltas
• Christopher Fulfordas Riffkind
• Antonio Valeroas Juan Chacón
• John SessionsasPaul Jarrico
• Geraint Wyn Daviesas Michael Wilson
• Sean ChapmanasEdward Dmytryk
• Peter BowlesasJack L. Warner
• Owen BrenmanasDalton Trumbo
• Jorge de Juan as Floyd
• Teresa José Berganza as Henrietta Williams
• Jorge Bosch as Joe Morales
• Daisy White as Sonya
• Luke Harrison Mendez as Dan
• Trinidad Serrano as Joan

Background

Salt of the Earthcaught the attention of Welsh writer-directorKarl Franciswhen the film was released in Europe. He became determined to filmThe Making of Salt of the Earthand worked with fellow-Welshman Nigel Walters, thedirector of cinematography,for years to make the film.

Jack L. Warner,Humphrey Bogart,Edward Dmytryk,Howard Hughes,Dalton Trumbo,andGeorge Jesselare among the real-life personalities depicted in the film.

The film was produced and shot inMadrid.Outdoor filming was done primarily in the miner towns of La Unión andPortmán(South-east of Spain)

Critical reception

The New York Timesfilm critic,Stephen Holden,generally liked the film, especially its message, but found some of the acting and the screenplay problematic. He wrote, "One of the Hollywood 10has a strong performance by Mr. Goldblum and a refreshingly sulfurous view of 1950s Hollywood caving in to fear. As hard-hitting as the movie is, some of its performances are thuddingly overstated, and its screenplay wears itsdidacticismon its sleeve.One of the Hollywood 10may be a useful film, but it is far from a great one. "

Leslie Camhi, writing forThe Village Voice,liked the work of directorKarl Francisand how he kept close to the true story, and wrote, "As Biberman, Jeff Goldblum mutes his considerable charisma; his stilted intellectual is so consumed by ideology that he hardly notices the harm done to his wife, actress Gale Sondergaard (played by firebrand Greta Scacchi), whoseOscar-winning career was cut short by his unflinching idealism. But director Francis shifts skillfully between scenes of glamour and oppression, sticking close to this compelling history. "

Varietymagazine film critic David Rooney was critical of the film's direction and believed the film is only worthy of cable television. He wrote, "A fascinating chapter in Hollywood history gets unremarkable treatment inOne of the Hollywood Ten,which centers on blacklisted director Herbert J. Biberman...[but] the pedestrian approach employed by writer-director Karl Francis gives it the look and feel of a lackluster cable movie, which would appear to be its commercial destination. "

Distribution

The film was released in Spain byThe Walt Disney Company,and debuted at theSan Sebastián Film Festivalon 29 September 2000.

It was featured at the Commonwealth Film Festival, Great Britain; the New York Jewish Film Festival; the San Diego Jewish Film Festival; the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival; the Washington Jewish Film Festival; and other film festivals.

See also

• The Hollywood Ten- (1950, documentary directed byJohn Berry)
• The Majestic
• Hollywood blacklist

External links

• One of the Hollywood TenatIMDb
• One of the Hollywood TenatAllMovie
• One of the Hollywood TenatRotten Tomatoes