Guilty by Suspicion is a 1991 American period drama film about the Hollywood blacklist, McCarthyism, and the activities of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Written and directed by Irwin Winkler in his directorial debut, it stars Robert De Niro, Annette Bening, and George Wendt. The character of David Merrill was inspired by the experiences of John Berry during the Hollywood blacklist era. The film was entered into the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Plot summary David Merrill, a director in 1950s Hollywood, returns from abroad to find that a rising tide of McCarthyism and the Red Scare has led to him not being allowed to work in films. He will only be allowed to direct once he implicates colleagues as Communist agents. He must decide whether to turn informant, or to stick to principle at the cost of his life's work. Cast Robert De Niro as David Merrill Annette Bening as Ruth Merrill George Wendt as Bunny Baxter Patricia Wettig as Dorothy Nolan Sam Wanamaker as Felix Graff Luke Edwards as Paulie Merrill Chris Cooper as Larry Nolan Ben Piazza as Darryl F. Zanuck Martin Scorsese as Joe Lesser Barry Primus as Bert Alan Gailard Sartain as Chairman Wood Robin Gammell as Congressman Clyde Howard Tavenner Brad Sullivan as Congressman Harold H. Velde Tom Sizemore as Ray Karlin Stuart Margolin as Abe Barron Roxann Biggs as Felicia Barron Barry Tubb as Jerry Cooper Adam Baldwin as FBI Agent #1 Reception The film opened to positive reviews and earned praise for Robert De Niro's performance. Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars and wrote that the film "teaches a lesson we are always in danger of forgetting: that the greatest service we can do our country is to be true to our conscience." On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating of 67% from 18 reviews. References External links 1991 films American legal drama films 1991 drama films 1990s legal films American courtroom films Films directed by Irwin Winkler Films about the Hollywood blacklist Warner Bros. films Films scored by James Newton Howard Films set in 1951 1991 directorial debut films Films produced by Arnon Milchan 1990s English-language films 1990s American films