Yes, Dalton Trumbo wrote the screenplay for the 1960 American epic historical drama film Exodus. He adapted the script from the 1958 novel of the same name by Leon Uris.
Dalton Trumbo's Role in Exodus
Dalton Trumbo was a pivotal figure in the creation of the film Exodus. While Leon Uris authored the original novel, Trumbo was responsible for translating that narrative into a script suitable for the big screen. This distinction is crucial:
- Leon Uris wrote the original novel Exodus, published in 1958. This novel served as the foundational source material.
- Dalton Trumbo wrote the screenplay for the 1960 film adaptation. This involved transforming the novel's plot, characters, and themes into a cinematic format, including dialogue and scene descriptions.
The film Exodus was produced and directed by Otto Preminger. It is a significant work in film history, depicting the founding of the State of Israel. Trumbo's involvement was particularly notable as it came during a period when he was still emerging from the Hollywood blacklist, a time when many writers worked pseudonymously or through "fronts." His credit on Exodus was an important step in breaking the blacklist's hold.
Key Contributors to the Film Exodus
To clarify the roles, here's a breakdown of the primary creative forces behind the Exodus film:
| Role | Individual | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Original Author | Leon Uris | Wrote the 1958 novel Exodus. |
| Screenwriter | Dalton Trumbo | Adapted the novel into the screenplay for the film. |
| Producer & Director | Otto Preminger | Produced and directed the 1960 film Exodus. |
This collaboration brought the powerful story of the founding of Israel to a wide audience through the medium of cinema, with Trumbo's screenplay being the blueprint for the on-screen action.
