Network

Network released in 1976 and is a strong satire on TV, films and media. The film won four Oscars and till 2010 is one of the greatest films according to Hollywood/ film critics. Howard Beale (Peter Finch), role was a talk show host who has low ratings but threatens suicide on national television. The studio fires him and ratings for the show went very high when he did this and then they put on air for a week to apologize but he say does not on air and says instead “life is bullshit and goes on an angry rant” and does not apologize. The studio hires him because they will make more money because for show.

The film is important because of the media culture of free speech and the film impacted writers and Hollywood because of its themes of mass media, isolation and the willingness of corporations to make profit over the breakdown of a TV show host. The show does even better and then Howard Beale gets a new show Howard Beale (called the mad prophet) The most memorable quote in the film is when audiences shout and also as asked by Howard Beale they did during a thunderstorm. From his show people across America show start shouting the phrase: We're as mad as hell, and we're not going to take this anymore." This phrase remained known in mass culture” Beale’s phrase of anger and his ranting made his mad prophet show the most highest ratings and profit.

In some of the greatest dialogue, the Studio chief Jensen tells Beales “interrelatedness of the participants in the international economy, and the illusory nature of nationality distinctions”. The Studio boss Jensen worldview ultimately persuades Beale to abandon his angry message and talks about the dehumanization of society. Ratings and the shows success start falling fast but Jensen supports Beale and does not let him get fired. A terrorist group with a show The Mao Tse Tung hour, with the studio assassinates Beale on Live television. Despite this, the film closes with "the first known instance of a man who was killed because he had lousy ratings”.

The film explores themes of media, profits and ratings of shows and the television industry. It is a very entertaining film and has influenced media culture/Hollywood and the press. It told a dramatic story of a man who desperate to get more TV success and has a mental collapse but is used by the studio and TV networks because he made more money for them now. Films, TV, music and everything moves with financial incentives and the film shows how Beale is used and his mad ravings make more money for the company. The impact of the is movie on Hollywood, media, TVC and culture is very important and it shows the individual who feels that society is destroying him his role as a mad TV show host made lots of money for the network in the film CCA. The acting and script is excellent and the movie was ahead of its times and now these themes of media, free press and the treatment of human beings versus money. I enjoyed the film and its dialogue very much and it’s a film that students and professionals should watch. When Howard Beal says “"We're as mad as hell, and we're not going to take this anymore." It became a cultural expression and this film was brilliant in its story.

Regards,
Wajeeh Fatima