The Cradle Will Rock Movie Review 1999

An exuberant if not always successful attempt by Robbins to capture the artistic/political fervor of New York in the '30s. Theatrical collaborators Orson Welles (Macfadyen) and John Houseman (Elwes) agree to produce Marc Blitzstein's (Azaria) new political musical "The Cradle Will Rock" for their Federal Theater company in 1937. Right-wing political interference closes the theater on opening night but Welles leads his company to another venue in Manhattan where the actors (because of their union) must perform the piece from the audience--the dramatic circumstances offering a unique success and a place in theatre history.

Distribution

Not Yet Released

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 133 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Stagestruck, Showbiz Dramas, True Stories, New York, New York, Great Depression, Politics, Screen Teams: Cusack & Robbins

Screenplay

Tim Robbins

Cast

Angus MacFadyen, Cary Elwes, Hank Azaria, Cherry Jones, Ruben Blades, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Philip Baker Hall, Bill Murray, Vanessa Redgrave, Susan Sarandon, Jamey Sheridan, John Turturro, Emily Watson, Bob Balaban, Paul Giamatti, Barnard Hughes, Barbara Sukowa, John Carpenter, Gretchen Mol, Harris Yulin, Dominic Chianese, Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Lee Arenberg, Daniel H. Jenkins, Peter Jacobson

Cinematography

Jean-Yves Escoffier

Director

Tim Robbins

Music

David Robbins

Producer

Jon Kilik, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista