Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • An American screenwriter and novelist: Dalton Trumbo was a prominent figure in the film industry, known for his work as a screenwriter and his political activism. He was one of the "Hollywood Ten," a group of film professionals who were cited for contempt of Congress and blacklisted for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) during its investigations into alleged communist influence in the American film industry.

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • Dalton Trumbo wrote the screenplay for the classic film "Roman Holiday." (This sentence identifies his professional work.)
  • The film "Trumbo" tells the story of Dalton Trumbo's experiences during the Hollywood blacklist. (This sentence references a biographical work about him.)
  • Dalton Trumbo was a vocal critic of the HUAC investigations. (This sentence describes his political stance.)

Advanced Usage

• "Trumbo-esque": (adjective, informal) Characteristic of or resembling the style, themes (often involving social justice or defiance against authority), or circumstances of Dalton Trumbo.
  • The writer's sharp, politically charged dialogue was described as Trumbo-esque.

Variants and Related Words

• Blacklist (noun/verb): The practice of denying employment to individuals suspected of having communist ties or sympathies, which directly affected Trumbo's career.
• Hollywood Ten (proper noun): The group of screenwriters and directors, including Dalton Trumbo, who were imprisoned and blacklisted.
• Screenwriter (noun): A person who writes scripts for films, which was Trumbo's profession.

Synonyms

• Blacklisted writer: A general term for a writer denied work due to political beliefs.
• Political dissident: A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.

Related Phrases

• To be blacklisted: To be placed on a list of people who are disapproved of and are to be punished or avoided. This phrase is central to Trumbo's biography.
  • After his testimony, he was blacklisted and could not find work under his own name.

Related Idioms

• "To write under a pseudonym": To publish work using a false name, a practice Trumbo and other blacklisted writers were forced to adopt.
  • During the blacklist, Dalton Trumbo wrote award-winning scripts under various pseudonyms.

Noun

1. United States screenwriter who was blacklisted and imprisoned for refusing to cooperate with congressional investigations of communism in America (1905-1976)