March 31, 1991
CITIZEN COHN
Screenplay by David Franzoni
Based on book by Nicholas Van Hoffman
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
In 1985, ROY MARCUS COHN lies dying in a hospital of AIDS. His lover, PETER, brings him his toy frog. He reflects on his miserable rotten life.
An intelligent boy, Roy grew up to become a successful attorney. He worked as the prosecutor of the Rosenbergs who were executed for treason. He and the JUDGE were in collusion. Soon, he begins working for SENATOR JOE McCARTHY in the communist witch hunts. He convinces McCarthy to appoint him as Chief Counsel on the committee instead of BOBBY KENNEDY. McCarthy and Roy's committee soon lead to the disgrace of many innocent citizens which in turn lead to the same citizens losing their jobs and some even committing suicide. Roy's adoring mother, DORA, is supportive of her ambitious son while Roy's father, AL, himself a liberal politician, is ashamed of his son's actions. Kennedy resigns. WALTER WINCHELL and CARDINAL SPELLMAN support the committee. Roy meets and befriends G. DAVID SCHINE, an anti-communist who joins the committee. Roy and Schine go on a tour of Europe to gain support for their cause. They are not well received. Back in the states, Roy wants McCarthy to have DASHIELL HAMMETT imprisoned for not cooperating with the committee. Schine gets drafted and Roy tries to get him a stateside commission, but the Army officials are not able to help. Roy decides to take on the Army and try to expose communists in their ranks. Kennedy gets Roy in trouble for trying to threaten the Army. Roy gets Kennedy in trouble for illegally bugging Martin Luther King. Roy tries to harass a black woman, ANNIE LEE MOSS, into testifying against the Army. J. EDGAR HOOVER gets Roy to back off after Hoover's homosexuality is threatened to be made public. The committee is dissolved.
Roy goes into corporate law and starts raping corporations, making tons of money. Kennedy becomes Attorney General and goes after Roy for trying to influence juries. When Roy is about to be found guilty, a lucky break insures him a mistrial. Roy "borrows" $100,000 from IVA SCHLESINGER and makes an enemy when he doesn't pay her back. Roy's mother dies. Roy learns he has AIDS. He is disbarred. He dies, madly raving at Ethel Rosenberg and Kennedy.
Summary Criticism: An intelligent and well-paced script, this is an authentic portrait of a real-life monster.
Citizen Cohn (1992) - imdb
Citizen Cohn (1992) - wiki
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