directed by Martin Ritt
1952. Howard Prince (Woody Allen), a down on his luck bookie, agrees to be a front for a friend of his who has been blacklisted. Howard sells his friend's scripts as if they were his own. He becomes very successful.
Howard's success is contrasted with the fall of Hecky Brown (Zero Mostel). Hecky was a big star but he comes under scrutiny. He tries to explain himself to an investigator but he still get blacklisted.
Howard eventually gets called to provide testimony to a sub-committee of the House Unamerican Activities Committee. He likes the money and he doesn't want to lose Florence, his girlfriend. He's ready to play along with the sub-committee but then he changes his mind. He refuses to answer their questions and is held in contempt and hauled away to jail.
Thoughts
William Phelps, one of the guys who is selling scripts through Howard, is played by David Margulies. I know Margulies best from Ghostbusters, he played the mayor, and The Sopranos, he played Tony's lawyer.
Danny Aiello has a small part in this movie.
This movie is unusual in that it stars Woody Allen but he did not write or direct it. He is good in this movie but I couldn't stop thinking about the stuff he has been accused of doing.
I saw this movie once before, 30 plus years ago if I remember correctly. I enjoyed it then. I am pleased to say that it still impressed me. The scene in front of the sub-committee near the end of the movie was very well handled by all involved.
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