Reds

A Hollywood glamour pic about American communists during the Russian Revolution? That’s exactly what producer/director/writer/star Warren Beatty used his clout to get made following his box office hit Heaven Can Wait (1978). 

The resulting epic recounts the story of American journalist John Reed who became famous for his coverage of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and his tumultuous relationship with feminist journalist Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton)—including an affair with playwright Eugene O’Neill (Jack Nicholson). Reed becomes enamored with the socialist revolution in Russia, and the pair become entangled with the push and pull of radical American politics featuring the likes of Emma Goldman (Maureen Stapleton) and publisher Max Eastman (Edward Herrmann), all orbiting around the leftist journal The Masses.

The film features fascinating contemporary interviews with those who knew the historical figures in the film including Henry Miller, George Jessel, George Seldes, Adela Rogers St. Johns, Masses cartoonist Hugo Gellert, and more. Reds was nominated for 12 and won 3 Oscars including Best Director (Beatty), Best Supporting Actress (Stapleton), and Cinematography (Vittorio Storaro). Screened in conjunction with Derf Backderf’s reading from his new graphic novel The Dissidents on September 23. (195 mins., DCP)

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Reds, courtesy of Paramount Pictures.