Network is a 1976 American satirical drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, released by United Artists, written by Paddy Chayefsky, and directed by Sidney Lumet. The film is about a fictional television network, the Union Broadcasting System (UBS), and its struggle with poor ratings. The movie stars Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch (in his final film role), Robert Duvall, Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, and Beatrice Straight.
The plot of the movie revolves around a veteran news anchorman, Howard Beale (Peter Finch), who discovers that he's being put out to pasture, and he's none too happy about it. After threatening to shoot himself on live television, he launches into an angry televised rant, which turns out to be a huge ratings boost for the UBS network. This stunt allows ambitious producer Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) to develop even more outrageous programming, a concept that she takes to unsettling extremes.
Network is a scathing critique of the television industry and the media's role in shaping public opinion. The film explores themes such as the commodification of news, the blurring of the line between news and entertainment, and the power of corporate interests to shape public discourse. The movie is considered a classic of American cinema and has won four Oscars.
Trailer
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Cast
- Faye Dunaway as Diana Christensen, a ruthless television executive
- William Holden as Max Schumacher, a news division president
- Peter Finch as Howard Beale, a news anchor who becomes a media sensation
- Robert Duvall as Frank Hackett, a network executive
- Wesley Addy as Nelson Chaney, a network executive
- Ned Beatty as Arthur Jensen, a communications corporation CEO
- Beatrice Straight as Louise Schumacher, Max's wife
Director: Sidney Lumet
Writer: Paddy Chayefsky
Box Office Gross: $23,690,757
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 27, 1976
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008