Cradle Will Rock (1999)
73%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 7 nominations
Witty and provocative
Cradle Will Rock” is a movie that’s as crowded and energetic as a big parade, according to Nell Minow from Common Sense Media. While some critics found the film to be a bit too on-the-nose with its political messaging, others praised its ambition and celebration of artistic expression. Personally, I thought it was like watching a bunch of theater kids put on a show, but in a good way. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely fascinating and worth a watch. Plus, who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned musical number about unionizing?
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some language and sexuality
Year of Release
2000
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 13m
-
Language(s):English, Italian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 16, 2000
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Hank Azaria, Ruben Blades, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Cary Elwes, Philip Baker Hall, Angus Macfadyen, Susan Sarandon, directed by Tim Robbins, written by Tim Robbins, drama, R rating, Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Jon Kilik, Tim Robbins produced, $2.9M box office, reviewed by Anthony Lane, Christy Lemire, Walter Goodman, Nell Minow, David Ansen, Janet Maslin, Matt Brunson, Emanuel Levy, Rob Gonsalves, Betsy Bozdech, Brandon Judell, labor strikes, cultural revolution, Nelson Rockefeller, Diego Rivera, Margherita Sarfatti, Orson Welles, “The Cradle Will Rock”, U.S soldiers, capitalism, class warfare, artistic expression, Depression-era unions, FDR, Marc Blitzstein, anti-Semitic, Mussolini, fascism, 1930s, theatre, political power, Diego’s painting
Worldwide gross: $2,986,932
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,180,582
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,166
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 564,949
US/Canada gross: $2,903,404
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,035,710
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,812
US/Canada opening weekend: $93,998
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $163,032
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,746
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $36,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $62,438,968
Production budget ranking: 660
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $33,623,384
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$90,881,770
ROI to date (est.): -95%
ROI ranking: 1,989
Rubén Blades – Diego Rivera
Joan Cusack – Hazel Huffman
John Cusack – Nelson Rockefeller
Cary Elwes – John Houseman
Philip Baker Hall – Gray Mathers
Director – Tim Robbins
Producers – Lydia Dean Pilcher, Jon Kilik, Tim Robbins
Writer – Tim Robbins
Director(s)
Tim Robbins
Writer(s)
Tim Robbins
Producer(s)
Lydia Dean Pilcher, Jon Kilik, Tim Robbins
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (26)
It could have been a mess, and there are patches where Robbins’s inspiration wears a little thin; yet, all in all, his ambitious tolerance pays off…
February 1, 2021
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
The let’s-put-on-a-show energy can be intoxicating. But man, does it take a long time to achieve that high.
May 7, 2018 | Rating: 2/4
Christy Lemire
ChristyLemire.com
TOP CRITIC
It is impossible to take the show seriously, as put together in Mr. Robbins’s cliche-jammed version…
November 30, 2017
Walter Goodman
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Art and politics and ideals; mature.
December 22, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Robbins eschews leftist diatribes for a bold cartoon version of history. It’s as crowded and energetic as a big parade.
March 31, 2008
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
While writer-director Tim Robbins uses this entertaining film to touch upon capitalism and class warfare, he’s mainly interested in championing artistic expression.
June 7, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Art and politics collide in Tim Robbins’ ambitious but not entirely successful effort to recreate a unique moment in American culture circa 1937.
August 14, 2010 | Rating: C+
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
The movie’s radical stance is that artists should get to do their art without being destroyed by mean rich people, and aren’t we just wonderful for agreeing with that?
July 30, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
As passionate and interesting as the film is, it’s about as subtle as a brick wall.
September 1, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Betsy Bozdech
Reel.com
Bertolt Brecht is probably doing somersaults of joy in his grave or wherever his remains happen to be.
August 6, 2006
Brandon Judell
PlanetOut
Cradle Will Rock is a far from perfect film, but it’s never less than fascinating.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid…
Plot
In 1930s New York Orson Welles tries to stage a musical on a steel strike under the Federal Theater Program despite pressure from an establishment fearful of industrial unrest and red activity. Meanwhile Nelson Rockefeller gets the foyer of his company headquarters decorated and an Italian countess sells paintings for Mussolini.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film boasts an impressive all-star cast, including John Cusack, Susan Sarandon, and Cary Elwes.
Tim-Robbins.jpg
