Cinema
Network
Sidney Lumet · 1976
Synopsis
New York. Howard Beale has long presented the evening news on the UBS network; a widower with no children, he drinks, and his ratings are falling. Max Schumacher, head of the news division and his old friend, tells him he will be leaving in two weeks. The next day, Beale declares on air that he will kill himself live on the following Tuesday's broadcast. Schumacher obtains a dignified farewell for him, but Beale launches into a tirade against the absurdity of it all, and the ratings leap; Diana Christensen, head of programming, wants to exploit this success.
Context
The screenwriter stayed on the set throughout the shoot and gave his opinion on the playing of certain scenes. For the lead role, Henry Fonda turned down a character he judged too hysterical, Walter Cronkite was considered but was not available, and George C. Scott refused, before the role fell to the Anglo-Australian actor Peter Finch, for whom it was his last film role. The shoot, preceded by two weeks of rehearsals, took place in Toronto and New York, from 19 January to 24 March 1976.
Who it is for
A film of two hours one, set almost entirely in offices and studios, where part of the force comes through long tirades.
Prizes and reception
Ten nominations and four Oscars in 1977, including the first awarded after the death of a performer and that for the shortest performance to be honoured.
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