Cradle Will Rock (1999)

Director:

Tim Robbins

Writer (WGA):

Tim Robbins (written by)

Release Date:

12 April 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Art is never dangerous -- unless it tells the truth.

Plot:

A true story of politics and art in the 1930s USA, centered around a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Play | Theater | Union | Communism

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Hank Azaria	...	Marc Blitzstein
Rubén Blades	...	Diego Rivera
Joan Cusack	...	Hazel Huffman
John Cusack	...	Nelson Rockefeller
Cary Elwes	...	John Houseman
Philip Baker Hall	...	Gray Mathers
Cherry Jones	...	Hallie Flanagan
Angus Macfadyen	...	Orson Welles
Bill Murray	...	Tommy Crickshaw
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Countess Constance LaGrange
Susan Sarandon	...	Margherita Sarfatti
Jamey Sheridan	...	John Adair
John Turturro	...	Aldo Silvano
Emily Watson	...	Olive Stanton
Bob Balaban	...	Harry Hopkins

Also Known As:

Abajo el telón (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Aplausos (Argentina) [es]
Broadway 39. utca (Hungary) (TV title) [hu]
Broadway, 39ème rue (France) [fr]
Das schwankende Schiff (Germany) [de]
Il prezzo della libertà (Italy) [it]
O Poder Vai Dançar (Brazil) (festival title) [pt]
Oi antartes tou Broadway (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and sexuality.

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | France:U | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Cradle Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Originally, an adaptation of 'The Cradle Will Rock' was supposed to be filmed in 1984. Amy Irving and Rupert Everett were already cast in their roles and was supposed to be filming in Rome when the production fell apart.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning of Hallie Flanagan's Senate testimony, the court stenograper's machines are not operating although they are pressing the keys. Later in the scene, the machines are working properly.

Quotes:

Marc: I am faithful to the ideals of the party.
Orson Welles: I am faithful to the party of ideas.
John Houseman: You are faithful to the idea of a party.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Broadway: The American Musical" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Let's Do Something

What is YOUR price?

This is a classically written piece about the corruptability and compromises of politicians, businessmen and yes even artists. Tim Robbins is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. I'll admit I had a hard time trying not to misinterpret the dialog, but at least the movie made me think. I also commend Robbins for tackling the hypocrisy involved in being an artist. It's slow, but give it a chance. By the end of this movie the levels and themes he's hitting on tie together very, very well.