The slugline caught my attention: "A radical American journalist becomes involved with the Communist revolution in Russia, and hopes to bring its spirit and idealism to the United States."
Can anyone here recommend it or should I go in expecting McCarthyism/reductionist takes?
Edit: thanks to everyone for the advice!! I'm definitely gonna watch it sometime this week.
It's probably up there with Matewan as the most left-wing movie that can possibly come out of Hollywood. It nevertheless still can't outright endorse the October Revolution and in the second half takes the arc of "the revolution is being perverted and isn't turning out how we hoped it would".
Overall the film is actually pretty good history. It portrays little-known events of left-wing history like the split with the Socialist Party of America, and the ensuing initial split between CPUSA and the Communist Labor Party. It also accurately portrays Zinoviev as a shithead prima donna.
Ironically, the first half climax that shows the October Revolution in montage is one of the most emotionally moving scenes I've ever watched, but is not accurate history on how that revolution unfolded lol