Where's My Roy Cohn? 2019

The film delves into the complex life of Roy Cohn, a formidable New York lawyer whose influence spanned from being the chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Second Red Scare to serving as the personal attorney for real estate mogul Donald Trump.

In 1951, Cohn emerges as a mere 24-year-old legal assistant at the office of United States Attorney General J. Howard McGrath, contributing to a prosecution team involved in the controversial trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. This period, a time marked by intense fear of the “Communist menace,” brings forth critical commentary on the judicial system, particularly targeting judge Irving Kaufman for alleged misconduct.

Displaying exceptional intellect, Cohn graduates from Columbia Law School at just 20, securing his position in the New York State Bar Association by the age of 21. However, during the 1940s and 1950s, societal norms painted homosexuality as a taboo, especially for those in powerful government positions. Cohn plays a key role during the Lavender Scare, a time when many were persecuted for their sexual orientation. Reportedly, there was a “romantic crush” between Cohn and David Schine, complicating his public and private persona. This is further exacerbated during the infamous Army–McCarthy hearings, where opposing counsel Joseph N. Welch publicly chastises Cohn, hurling homophobic jabs that reflect the harsh stance society took against individuals like Cohn, caught between ambition and their true selves.

The film offers a fascinating insight into the life of a man shaped by the tumultuous politics of his era, revealing how deeply personal struggles intertwined with his legal battles.