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This thread is dedicated to Sidney Lumet's 1976 film, Network.
This movie has to have the best acting ensemble ever: Faye Dunaway is perfect as the ratings-hungry xxxxx Diana Christensen, Peter Finch is outstanding as the mad prophet Howard Beale, William Holden is just as good as traditional old timer Max Schumacher, as are Ned Beatty, Robert Duvall and yes, even Beatrice Straight (in her six minute, Oscar-winning performance).
Paddy Chayefsky's screenplay is extremely quotable, and below are some of my favorite parts.
Howard Beale: Right now, there is a whole, an entire generation that never knew anything that didn't come out of this tube. This tube is the gospel, the ultimate revelation; this tube can make or break presidents, popes, prime ministers; this tube is the most awesome goddamn propaganda force in the whole godless world, and woe is us if it ever falls into the hands of the wrong people, and that's why woe is us that Edward George Ruddy died. Because this company is now in the hands of CCA, the Communications Corporation of America; there's a new chairman of the board, a man called Frank Hackett, sitting in Mr. Ruddy's office on the twentieth floor. And when the 12th largest company in the world controls the most awesome goddamn propaganda force in the whole godless world, who knows what xxxx will be peddled for truth on this network?
Howard Beale: I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!
Diana Christensen: Hi. I'm Diana Christensen, a racist lackey of the imperialist ruling circles.
Laureen Hobbs: I'm Laureen Hobbs, a badass commie nigger.
Diana Christensen: Sounds like the basis of a firm friendship.
Howard Beale: ...I want you to get mad. I don't want you to protest, I don't want you to riot, I don't want you to write to your congressman, because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression, the inflation, the Russians, or the crime in the streets. All I know is that first... You've got to get mad.
This movie has to have the best acting ensemble ever: Faye Dunaway is perfect as the ratings-hungry xxxxx Diana Christensen, Peter Finch is outstanding as the mad prophet Howard Beale, William Holden is just as good as traditional old timer Max Schumacher, as are Ned Beatty, Robert Duvall and yes, even Beatrice Straight (in her six minute, Oscar-winning performance).
Paddy Chayefsky's screenplay is extremely quotable, and below are some of my favorite parts.
Howard Beale: Right now, there is a whole, an entire generation that never knew anything that didn't come out of this tube. This tube is the gospel, the ultimate revelation; this tube can make or break presidents, popes, prime ministers; this tube is the most awesome goddamn propaganda force in the whole godless world, and woe is us if it ever falls into the hands of the wrong people, and that's why woe is us that Edward George Ruddy died. Because this company is now in the hands of CCA, the Communications Corporation of America; there's a new chairman of the board, a man called Frank Hackett, sitting in Mr. Ruddy's office on the twentieth floor. And when the 12th largest company in the world controls the most awesome goddamn propaganda force in the whole godless world, who knows what xxxx will be peddled for truth on this network?
Howard Beale: I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!
Diana Christensen: Hi. I'm Diana Christensen, a racist lackey of the imperialist ruling circles.
Laureen Hobbs: I'm Laureen Hobbs, a badass commie nigger.
Diana Christensen: Sounds like the basis of a firm friendship.
Howard Beale: ...I want you to get mad. I don't want you to protest, I don't want you to riot, I don't want you to write to your congressman, because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression, the inflation, the Russians, or the crime in the streets. All I know is that first... You've got to get mad.
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