FILM · 2015 · AUSTRALIA
Truth
19 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (19)
- #001
CBS, the American television network that fired investigative journalist Mary Mapes (played by Cate Blanchett) over the scandal depicted in this film, refused to air advertisements for it. Its stated reason was that the film's treatment of the real-life scandal would harm the truth, the public and journalists. Dan Rather (Robert Redford), who also had to leave CBS in the wake of the scandal, claims the film reflects those real events very accurately.
- #002
The film was shot in Australia at the request of Cate Blanchett, who wanted to be close to her family during production.
- #003
Dan Rather praised the film for accurately reflecting television news. He particularly liked Robert Redford's portrayal of him because Redford did not attempt an impersonation.
- #004
Actors hoping to be nominated for an Oscar for a leading role are allowed to submit only one lead performance. Cate Blanchett chose to put forward her performance in Carol (2015) rather than her equally acclaimed turn as Mary Mapes in this film. Given Truth's (2015) disastrous box office performance, that turned out to be the smarter choice.
- #005
The film opens in very vivid color, but as Mary Mapes finds herself in an increasingly conciliatory position, the color slowly drains away. Cate Blanchett was also shot more often in medium frames to emphasize the walls closing in on Mapes.
- #006
Near the end of the film, while Mary Mapes is talking to Dan Rather on the phone, she leans against a bookcase in her home. On the shelf you can see "A Good Life," the autobiography of legendary Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee. Bradlee was the editor when the Post broke the Watergate scandal. As in this film, the Post had to manage a media disaster when it emerged that Post writer Janet Cooke had fabricated a story about a young drug addict that won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize. When the truth came out, the Post returned the prize.
- #007
Mary Mapes was initially not interested in having her story made into a film. To persuade her otherwise, James Vanderbilt, his wife and a delegation of producers had to visit her at her home in Texas.
- #008
Andrew Heyward was president of CBS News at the time. He told The New York Times that the film "holds people accountable for the biggest embarrassment in CBS News history, and it dealt a heavy blow to the credibility of a then-proud news organization and turned them into martyrs and heroes. Only Hollywood could do that."
- #009
Robert Redford already knew Dan Rather and called him in advance to tell him he would be playing him in the film. Rather was, on the contrary, very honored.
- #010
Sony bought the American distribution rights for 6 million dollars, slightly more than the film's entire box office gross.
- #011
It was shot over eight weeks.
- #012
Before shooting began, James Vanderbilt sat down with Australian cinematographer Mandy Walker and showed her some classic films built around people who talk a great deal. All the President's Men (1976), Margin Call (2011) and Michael Clayton (2007) were on the list.
- #013
The film had been in development since 2007.
- #014
Robert Redford also played another real journalist, Bob Woodward, in All the President's Men (1976), and another TV journalist, the fictional Warren Justice, in Up Close & Personal (1996).
- #015
It is James Vanderbilt's directorial debut.
- #016
The restaurant scene in Truth was shot at Spur, a South African chain specializing in Native American-themed burgers, steaks and Mexican food. The restaurant in question, however, is in Sydney.
- #017
Epilogue: "The Independent Panel Report found no evidence of political bias in the reporting of the Guard story. Josh Howard, Mary Murphy and Betsy West were asked to resign. Mary Mapes was fired." "Dan Rather left CBS and sued for breach of contract, claiming he had been forced out to appease the White House. The suit was dismissed by the New York State Court of Appeals." "After Mary Mapes was fired, CBS News won a Peabody Award for its reporting on Abu Ghraib. It is regarded as one of the most important pieces of journalism of the decade. Mary Mapes has not worked in television news since 2004."
- #018
This is the third collaboration between Dennis Quaid and Topher Grace, who had previously appeared together in Traffic (2000) (though they did not share a scene) and In Good Company (2004).
- #019
Andrew Heyward (Bruce Greenwood) notes that Dan Rather (Robert Redford) was the first to report on the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Greenwood himself played Kennedy in Thirteen Days (2000).
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