Fellow Traveller

Fellow Traveller is a compelling drama exploring the life and struggles of a Hollywood scriptwriter in the era of the Cold War and McCarthyism, released in 1990. Directed by Philip Saville and featuring a stellar cast led by Ron Silver, Hart Bochner and Imogen Stubbs, this TV movie masterfully champions the dangerous world of politics and television through a narrative filled with tension, suspense, and resonating historical context.

The film introduces Ron Silver as Asa Kaufman, a talented and successful Hollywood scriptwriter during the 1940s. Kaufman's vivacious creativity and artistry are evident in his work, but as the story progresses, the audience discovers he is a member of the Communist party. This membership becomes a problem for Kaufman as America enters the era of McCarthyism, where anti-communist sentiment leads to a wave of persecution and blacklisting within the entertainment industry. Kaufman, like many real-life Hollywood artists during this time, finds himself in danger of losing his career due to his political beliefs, no matter how quietly he held them.

Hart Bochner gives us Clifford Byrne, an up-and-coming actor who is friends with Kaufman. His life is less complicated, or at least it seems. He is younger, less wise, and eager to establish himself in the film industry, willing to navigate whatever curves the industry and society throw at him. He does not understand fully why Kaufman is struggling and is naive about the political implications that their industry has become entangled with.

Imogen Stubbs stars as Joan Blackman, a British script analyst who slowly becomes entangled in the complex relationships of Kaufman and Byrne. She's a woman trying to make her way in a male-dominated world, a subtle yet powerful subplot that flutters delicately under the film's overarching political narrative.

Fellow Traveller is more than a historical drama about Hollywood's golden age and the fears engendered in the McCarthy era. It uses its historical context to explore the balance between personal beliefs and professional stability, delving into how one's political and moral standpoint can intermingle destructively with one's artistic career. The narrative carefully shows the transformative power of fear on friendships, loyalties, and the artistic expression represented through cinema.

The plot structure spins a web of intrigue and suspense as Kaufman begins to pen for a popular children’s cowboy series, using it as a pulpit for his suppressed political views. This masterstroke of storytelling, of subversion in its finest form, lets the audience question the appropriation of art for political purpose and the potential consequences when a powerful media becomes a subversive tool to express silent resistance.

Philip Saville's direction serves to highlight the paranoia and dread that the film's protagonists face, reinforcing the grim reality of the McCarthy era. The cinematography and production design effectively recreate the period, enhancing the film's strong historical evocation.

The cast is superb in their roles, with Ron Silver delivering a haunting portrayal of an individual caught in the storm of political paranoia, fear and personal doubt. Hart Bochner convincingly portrays the callow and naive actor struggling to understand the political narrative shaping his friend's life. Imogen Stubbs provides a nuanced performance embodying the tensions, struggles, and aspirations of a woman in the male-centric world of Hollywood.

On the whole, Fellow Traveller offers a potent and thought-provoking exploration of a dark era in American politics and its impact on Hollywood. The film is neither a simple historical lesson nor a linear narrative about good versus evil. Instead, it's a deeply nuanced and intellectually engaging drama highlighting the problematic intersection of politics, art, and the lives that get caught in between. The film's historical backdrop lends it a deeper context, providing valuable reflection points to contemporary audiences about the role of media, the power of fear, and the value of artistic integrity, even in the face of adversity.