Network (1976)

Network (1976)

Director: Sidney Lumet

Stars: Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, William Holden

This brilliant satire about the news (written by Paddy Chayefsky) concerns a news anchor who has a breakdown live and believes God is talking to him. This does great ratings so an aggressive producer (Dunaway) takes over the show. Ratings soar, and other shows, like one concerning the daily exploits of a terrorist group, are created. But what happens when ratings start to falter?

Six Things I've Learned From Network

1. William Holden was a badass.

2. Most of the time, when a movie is loaded with stars, they kind of get in each other's way. This movie is the exception. Peter Birch, Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway, Ned Beatty and William Holden all share the screen without overshadowing one another.

3. There should really be more soothsayers in news.

4. This film is just as relevant today (maybe more so) as it was in 1976. An example is when Birch is preaching about people learning everything from television instead of reading a newspaper or a book.

5.  I wonder if every business is as cutthroat as the network in this film. I'd like to imagine some pet store manager getting ousted by a young upstart who proceeds to fire the guy in the dog department because he didn't like the old fashioned way he put up the Kibbles N Bits.

6. This movie has the single greatest closing line in a movie ever. And yes, I'm aware I said the same thing about Willy Wonka. This one wins.