Actually this movie has an 'ensemble cast', which means it's full of actors I recognize. This is fun in and of itself, but because the dialogue and story is so interesting, it's twice as great. I can't wait to talk about it in class, although I hope it will have stuck in my brain well enough for me to discuss is properly. It has many characters and subplots, although they all relate to the central themes of communism/capitalism/fascism. Though, of course it's not over yet, I'm not sure if I would call it pro-communism, but it's surely anti-capitalism. Though the playwright who wrote Cradle Will Rock (the name of a play being produced in the movie, obviously where it takes its title) has said that he is officially not a Communist, but he believes in the ideals. However that's been the only direct statement, and even then it's not particularly direct, for pro-communism.

The movie is about a group of theater folks who are under investigation by the government for having communism in their program. It takes place in the 1930's, which I always thought was a very interesting time in the first place. According to the prologue, this is a moslty true story, and it does indeed have many 'real life' characters (i.e. Orson Welles, as the director of the playwright's play). I love the playwright, too--he's an insomniac who's constantly haunted by imaginary voices (one of whom is someone I'm sure I'm meant to recognize, another of whom is his dead wife).

Ahh, this movie is great. I should probably be taking notes though. :B; Also I now really regret missing the class showing, because this movie would be great fun to watch with other people.