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Guilty by Suspicion (1991)
Front Cover Actor
Robert De Niro David Merrill
Annette Bening Ruth Merrill
George Wendt Bunny Baxter
Patricia Wettig Dorothy Nolan
Sam Wanamaker Felix Graff
Luke Edwards Paulie Merrill
Chris Cooper Larry Nolan
Ben Piazza Darryl Zanuck
Martin Scorsese Joe Lesser
Barry Primus Bert Alan
Movie Details
Genre Drama
Director Irwin Winkler
Producer Arnon Milchan
Writer Irwin Winkler
Language English
Audience Rating PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Running Time 105 mins
Country USA
Color Color
IMDb Rating 6.3
Plot
A fictional dramatization of the anti-Communist witch-hunts that plagued the U.S. during the late 1940s and early '50s, Guilty by Suspicion examines one of the most shameful periods of American history. After producing such prominent films as Rocky and Raging Bull, Irwin Winkler made his directorial debut with this 1991 drama, basing his screenplay on the harsh reality of the blacklisting era. Set during 1951, when the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) held hearings to target alleged Communist affiliations within the Hollywood filmmaking community, the film stars Robert De Niro as a prominent director who is urged to "name names" to appease the committee. Rather than betray one of his closest friends, he refuses to "cooperate" with the committee and is quickly blacklisted, his entire career in jeopardy. Costarring Annette Bening as the director's sympathetic ex-wife, the film doesn't pack the emotional punch of The Front (another blacklisting-era film, starring Woody Allen), but Winkler captures the paranoid anxiety of the period with a wealth of authentic detail. Because the De Niro character underestimates the power of the HUAC, we share his shock and dismay when he must finally face the committee. Without seeming like a dry history lesson, Guilty by Suspicion illuminates the unconstitutional evil of the blacklist era while offering a glimpse behind the scenes of Hollywood's past. Adding to the realism, director Martin Scorsese makes a rare cameo as another filmmaker under fire. Although Winkler's script and direction are perhaps too melodramatic, Guilty by Suspicion was clearly made with noble purpose and intention. For anyone interested in the blacklisting era and Hollywood history, this movie's a must-see. --Jeff Shannon
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 1552
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
IMDB
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio 1.33:1
085391205326
Release Date 6/1/2004
Subtitles English
Audio Tracks English Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1