Cradle Will Rock DVD

Writer-director Tim Robbins weaves together historical and fictional characters dealing with the relationship between politics and the arts and the fear of communism so prevalent in the first half of the 20th century. Set in New York City in the 1930s, the action is based around a pro-union musical, CRADLE WILL ROCK, written by Mark Blitzstein (Hank Azaria). A young Orson Welles (Angus MacFadyen), as part of the Federal Theater Project, is directing Blitzstein's musical. This branch of the Works Progress Administration, established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt and intended to provide jobs for unemployed Americans following the depression, and its director, Hallie Flanagan (Cherry Jones), come under fire in congressional hearings when communist influence is suspected. Politics, wealth, and the arts make strange bedfellows as fascist Margherita Sarfatti (Susan Sarandon) sells masterpieces to millionaires to fund Mussolini's war effort, Nelson Rockefeller (John Cusack) commissions anti-capitalist artist Diego Rivera (Ruben Blades) to paint a mural, and Countess LaGrange (Vanessa Redgrave) becomes involved in the theater company's hijinks. Ultimately, Robbins's star-studded tour de force is a tribute to the courageous individuals who refused to be silenced by censorship.

While the rich are funding Mussolini's war efforts by purchasing ill-gotten masterpieces from fascist Margherita Sarfatti (Susan Sarandon), the poor, like Olive Stanton (Emily Watson), are singing on the street for a nickel. In an unlikely partnership, Nelson Rockefeller (John Cusack) commissions anti-capitalism artist Diego Rivera (Ruben Blades) to paint a mural. Meanwhile, Mark Blitzstein (Hank Azaria) is inspired to write a pro-union musical that is closed before it opens when Congress begins to investigate the Federal Theater Project. Based on actual events in the 1930s, writer-director Tim Robbins boldly tackles politics, the arts, and a cultural revolution.

Theatrical release: December 10, 1999. Filmed in New York City. The dialogue in the Dies Committee Hearings scenes was taken directly from congressional records.

Cradle Will Rock Reviews:

"...Smart and pleasingly ambition....Jones' controlled energy and charisma simultaneously drive the film and ground it in a reality..." -- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"...Sweeping, ambitious....There is a lot of material to cover here, and Robbins covers it in a way that will be fascinating to people who know the period..." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"...A timely rallying cry against censorship....Robbins is a world-class rabble-rouser whose playful style doesn't hide his serious intent..." -- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"Writer/director Tim Robbins has crafted an ambitous, vibrant ensemble movie..." -- Stephen Farber, Movieline's Hollywood Life

"...A vivid and richly entertaining pageant..." -- 4 out of 5 stars -- Christopher Kelly, Premiere

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