I remember watching a movie in 1976 that gave everyone instructions to do something totally crazy. “I want you to go to the window, open it, stick your head out, and yell, I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore.” How many of us did as we were told? I know I did when I got home from the movie theater. Those few words were packed with a powerful punch. I was about 25 years old. Life was frustrating and tough. The world was changing again, and big corporations were gobbling up the “mom-and-pop” stores. Television was developing and branching out. Everyday living costs were sky-high, and life seemed to be a little topsy-turvy for the middle class. It was a time when the almighty buck was in control. Profit was the name of the game. Howard Beal’s (Peter Finch) advice just seemed to make sense and gave some power back to the people. When someone declares “They have seen the face of God,” many desperately believe those words even if he was only a made-for-TV prophet. The NETWORK hype was insatiable, cruel, and dishonest. It still is today almost fifty years later.
NETWORK was written by the brilliant mind of Paddy Chayefsky. He was rewarded with an Oscar for Best Screenplay. Peter Finch was awarded his Best Actor Oscar posthumously. He was very ill with congenital heart failure throughout the filming of the movie. He could only do one take on his monologue sermons because he had so much trouble catching his breath. He never lived to see the entire movie. At one of the premieres, he keeled over and had to be rushed to the hospital. He was pronounced dead upon arrival. Sidney Lumet, the director, said he knew he had died the second he collapsed. His genius performance made NETWORK a giant film for all eternity.
Faye Dunaway received the Best Actress Oscar along with Beatrice Straight for Best Supporting Actress. Beatrice was only filmed for a little over five minutes. She holds the record for the shortest performance to win an award. Her screen time was magnificent and sheer perfection. There can’t be a dry eye in the house while watching. It was masterful and memorable. Faye was told to play her role as Diana, the take no prisoners, cold, heartless bitch, just as she was in real life. She was not directed to smile or laugh except while in bed with William Holden. (And that was less than a millisecond!) Two strong, polar opposite performances spotlighted within a man’s world.
The entire ensemble was creative and extremely talented featuring Ned Beatty, Robert Duvall, and Ken Kercheval. William Holden as Max was exceptional. He gave audiences hope and some stability even though he destroyed his life. He helped put the pieces back together after a tumultuous affair. Did he succeed? Who knows? What will the mighty NETWORK do for a mere rating point? The conclusion was sobering. The lighting cast shadows of doubt throughout the film. And the only music heard was snippets of theme songs from real TV shows played in the 70s. It was chilling.
NETWORK prompts the question if democracy is just a Mecca for conglomerates and “by-laws of business.” Chayefsky’s skillful prose leads audiences down a path of no return. It is frightening what television executives have become. NETWORK is spellbinding. It is a timely classic that holds us in its web of dark, dramatic clutches. It is relevant, entertaining, and leaves us pondering our future. It is available on TCM.
