Fellow Traveller (1990)

About Fellow Traveller

"Fellow Traveller" is a gripping drama that delves into the complex issue of McCarthy-era blacklisting in Hollywood. The movie, directed by Philip Saville, revolves around Asa Kaufman, a talented screenwriter forced to write under various pseudonyms to maintain his career, and his relationship with his best friend Ronnie, a successful actor who goes on to testify against him.

Making / Production

The movie was produced by Mammoth Screen for BBC and HBO. With Philip Saville as the director, Martin Stellman and Graeme Macdonald worked cohesively to create an engrossing screenplay that depicted the communist witch hunt carried out during the 1950s. The successful production of the movie set a precedent for uncovering controversial historical episodes through cinematic lens.

Actors

• Ron Silver as Asa Kaufman - an engaging portrayal of a screenwriter navigating the pitfalls of the blacklisting era.
• Imogen Stubbs as Ruthie Kaufman - a nuanced performance as Asa's wife who supports her husband during his trials.
• Hart Bochner as Ronnie - a compelling interpretation of a career driven actor who betrays his best friend.
• Richard Wilson as the Director - adding his own unique flair to the Hollywood character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie is set during the notorious Hollywood Blacklist period. This was an era during which numerous artists were shunned from the industry due to their suspected communist affiliations.
• Fellow Traveller was initially aired on television before it was presented on the big screen.

Quotes

• "Just remember, it's not the size of the screen... it's the size of the lie."
• "Things change. That's what history is, change."

Music, Soundtrack

• The atmospheric score was composed by Richard Harvey. Harvey’s tracks support the tension and drama of the narrative effectively.