Two recommendations

Dalton Trumbo

    The new documentary, "Trumbo," is terrific.  Based on a play by Dalton Trumbo's son, it draws heavily on the writer's wonderful letters, which are read by Donald Sutherland, Liam Neeson, David Strathairn, Paul Giamatti and Joan Allen.  Trumbo was one of the Hollywood 10, directors and writers who were fired for refusing to testify before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee in 1947.  The letters provide a vivid picture of Trumbo's life during the 13 years he was blacklisted.

    Also, ABFFE has chosen as its book of the month, Barry Siegel's "Claim of Privilege: A Mysterious Plane Crash, A Landmark Supreme Court Case and the Rise of State Secrets" (HarperCollins).  This book is the perfect combination of a great writer (as a reporter for the LA Times, Siegel won a Pulitzer for feature writing) and a critical issue--the growth of the state secrets doctrine.  For more, check out our interview with Siegel. 

Barry Siegel's "Claim of Privilege"