BUY TICKETS HERE
Join us at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 27th, for director Sidney Lumet’s Oscar-winning “Network,” a merciless — and timely — satire of the machinations inside the news department of a major TV network.
NETWORK | 1976 | DIRECTOR: Sidney Lumet | WITH: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Firth, Beatrice Straight, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty | RATED R for vulgar language, sexual situations, strong adult themes | RUNNING TIME: 2H 1M
A television network cynically exploits a deranged former anchor’s ravings and revelations about mass media for its own profit, but finds that his message may be difficult to control.
“The movie caused a sensation in 1976. It was nominated for 10 Oscars, won four (Finch, Dunaway, supporting actress Beatrice Straight, screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky), and stirred up much debate about the decaying values of television. Seen a quarter-century later, it is like prophecy. When Chayefsky created Howard Beale, could he have imagined Jerry Springer, Howard Stern and the World Wrestling Federation?
“One of Chayefsky’s key insights is that the bosses don’t much care what you say on TV, as long as you don’t threaten their profits. Howard Beale calls for outrage, he advises viewers to turn off their sets, his fans chant about how fed up they are–but he only gets in trouble when he reveals plans to sell the network’s parent company to Saudi Arabians.
“There’s a parallel here with “The Insider,” a 1999 film about CBS News, where “60 Minutes” can do just about anything it wants to, except materially threaten CBS profits.” — Roger Ebert
Tickets are $6 and available at link above. Students use code STUDENT at checkout for free admission (must show student ID at the door).
