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Guilty by Suspicion

Play trailer Poster for Guilty by Suspicion PG-13 1991 1h 45m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When director David Merrill returns to the United States from Paris, he is called before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Though he is not a communist, he refuses to cooperate in order to protect his friend, screenwriter Bunny Baxter. Merrill faces repercussions and is blacklisted. Already on rocky terms with his wife and unable to work in film, theater or advertising, Merrill starts to waver in his principles.
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Guilty by Suspicion

Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 05/24/2022
3/4
The fact that Guilty by Suspicion has been made at all shows to what extent we’ve recovered; the fact that it leaves so much of the story still untold shows to what extent we haven’t. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3.5/4
It teaches a lesson we are always in danger of forgetting: that the greatest service we can do our country is to be true to our conscience. Go to Full Review
Graham Young Birmingham Mail Jul 22
Very slow until a rousing climax, Irwin Winkler's film is guilty of not portraying the whole truth itself. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 07/27/2023
2.5/4
...compelling subject matter that’s employed to periodically watchable yet mostly underwhelming effect by Irwin Winkler... Go to Full Review
Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 11/07/2005
4/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/27/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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John U @wbbcmt Oct 27 same old boring story, told by every Hollywood producer 100x See more bob c Sep 3 Pretty crude post Cold War take on the 1950s communist purges in Hollywood. Hasn’t aged well. See more Alain E @AlainE Jun 29 A good film about the McCarthy period. As expected, the people who think that that was the golden period of Congress will find many flaws with the movie. De Niro gives an excellent performance, measured and to the point. See more r96 s 08/13/2024 'Guilty by Suspicion' is an interesting picture. I like it! It does a great job at portraying the threat throughout, the FBI & Co. feel as omnipresent as intended. I particularly enjoyed the final few scenes, they absolutely nailed the chaoticness of the courtroom! Robert De Niro puts in a great showing, spearheading a decent supporting cast which includes Martin Scorsese. It's the first time I've seen him act barring minor cameos; well, aside from, eh, 'Shark Tale', I guess ... All in all, glad I watched it and I would recommend it. See more jon c 03/15/2021 Its 1951 and the communist scare is at an all time high. Robert Dr Niro is David Merrill, he works in Hollywood but the government with the House of Un-American Activities Committee is having him under investigation after coming back from Paris. Attacking the creative community of Hollywood is what they do through censorship and fear. Annette Bening as his wife, Ruth is staring to have doubts about his affiliations and his friend Bunny after he's blacklisted. Merrill wavering his principles might be the only thing he has to combat this deadly confrontation. Because of his political affiliation he can no longer write. His son faces the same kind of backlash being branded a communist, Merrill loses his house, and the studio won't grant him access. This film is based on an actual occurrence known as the Hollywood Blacklist of the 1950s. Books were banned; some were burned. It's a big witch-hunt to track down as many sympathizers without hearing their cases. The final scene leads to a big showdown of proving once and for all Merills involvement. It's brutal and will keep you invested seeing as how so many accused like him were persecuted for years standing up for their beliefs. De Niro is awesome playing a man caught in a world of watchful eyes and unwarranted hate. Sometimes being true to our conscience is more important. See more steve d 07/10/2020 Forgettable beside the one courtroom scene. See more Read all reviews
Guilty by Suspicion

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Movie Info

Synopsis When director David Merrill returns to the United States from Paris, he is called before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Though he is not a communist, he refuses to cooperate in order to protect his friend, screenwriter Bunny Baxter. Merrill faces repercussions and is blacklisted. Already on rocky terms with his wife and unable to work in film, theater or advertising, Merrill starts to waver in his principles.
Director
Irwin Winkler
Producer
Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter
Irwin Winkler
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers, Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Regency Enterprises
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 15, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$8.4M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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