and was earning $4,000 a week — by his accounting, the highest salary ever paid to that date for writing services alone on a long-term basis.
On April 10, 1953, Trumbo wrote to the Kings in a financially desperate state, asking for an overdue payment and suggesting that his situation had become so bleak that he was suicidal:"It is, really, enough to make a man think of cashing in on his insurance by a well-placed bullet, rather than to see his family, through no fault of his own, steadily descend into bankruptcy. They'd be better off." He added,"I enclose herewith.
The mystery was kept quiet until the following Sunday, when Robert Rich of North Hollywood entered the picture. He walked into the Academy's offices and said he had not written the story, an Academy spokesperson told the International News Service, declining to share additional details because it was"a ticklish situation." The next day,received a call, reporting,"A man who identified himself as 'Robert Rich, the nephew of Mr.
Younger brother Herman tag-teamed the press, labeling speculation that Rich was a pseudonym for a blacklisted writer as"absolutely ridiculous" and"pretty damned silly." He mused of Rich's decision not to pick up his Oscar,"I figure he's a writer who doesn't care for glory." As for the statuette in question:"The Academy had accepted in good faith the credits as shown on the main title of," the organization's board announced following a special meeting several weeks after the ceremony."To date, no clear proof of authorship has been established. Until such time as the writer presents and identifies himself as the true author of the story, and is qualified to receive the award, the Oscar will remain in the hands of the Academy.
What a story
I watched this movie with Bryan Cranston. So this is the real guy and the story behind that Oscar winning story.