MovieChat Forums > Network (1976) Discussion > Ok, Here It Goes............

Ok, Here It Goes............

posted 10 years ago by Corky666
13 replies | jump to latest

Just finished the movie.

It was beautifully acted, perfectly paced and well edited. With all that being said this movie belongs to William Holden. I only saw him in two other movies, Towering and Wild Bunch so I'm limited on his craft. The dude owned it and everyone in it.

I thought this movie was probably ahead of its time at the time of its release because of all the propheticness, if you will. It's kinda creepy how much this film predicted television media today.

The thing I didn't like was the dialogue is preachy and it didn't need to be. The dialogue is overrated, too cartoonish in my opinion. I realize it was a satire but I didn't need be beat over the head with it. I get it, I'm smart, I can figure things out.

Never realized how pretty Faye was. This is the best I've ever seen her.

Anyway, enjoy your fistfights here

[–] denbeez 10 years ago

Sorry, but anyone who uses "propheticness" in a sentence has no business criticizing Paddy Chayefsky's dialogue writing skills.

[–] Corky666 10 years ago

Haha fanboy, just for that dumb response you should DIE! I'll pray it happens tonight :-)

[–] denbeez 10 years ago

That riposte was certainly full of propheticness.

[–] rtw416 10 years ago

Chayefsky and Lumet considered the screenplay to be cinema verité and not a satire. So everyone who thought they were being prophetic were wrong,this was there opinion of what they saw happening to network television.
TCM airs a short interview with Sidney where he explains all of this.

[–] madpogue 10 years ago

...this was there opinion of what they saw happening...

Isn't that the definition of prophesy?

[–] kinsociojey 8 years ago

Isn't that the definition of prophesy?

No. "Happening" at the time he wrote it, not "happening in the future". It is a dramatization of what was happening in television in the 60s and 70s.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074958/

[–] Molly-31 10 years ago

Other Bill Holden movies you should see:

Bridge on the River Kwai
Stalag 17
Sunset Blvd.
Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
World of Suzie Wong
Born Yesterday
The Moon Is Blue
and I like him in "Dear Ruth" and "Dear Wife".

In his earliest roles he is sexy and beautiful. Golden Boy, Our Town.

I'm all right, I'm alllll right!

[–] rtw416 10 years ago

Watch STALAG 17,SUNSET BLVD and BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI-just to name a few of Holden's great work

[–] jojomack2006 10 years ago

What about "PICNIC" with Kim Novak?!? Filmed in Salina, Kansas. William Holden removed his shirt, dances in the Kansas heat! I'm a heterosexual male, but it's hot!! I mean HOTT!!! Great 50's flick. John

[–] WhWm 8 years ago

To Corky (OP):

I agree entirely. NETWORK totally belonged to WILLIAM HOLDEN. He was fantastic!

[–] Corky666 8 years ago

You got balls dude, good job

[–] jojomack2006 8 years ago

Hey! I LOVED the movie! Everything. Can you believe they gunned down Howard Beale on live TV?!? Hasn't happened in America?!? Fox News?!? Padded script Classic! Heard he was racist or something??? Don't give a damn his words or Golden. He came out of WWII, Jew..I dig him. Lots of other people did too. Heard director Sidney Lumet, no sets, natural light. One of my top 5 films with Death Wish and Vanishing Point (find that one!! Hee Hee what's his name???? Barry ??? Think he's still alive? Cleavon Little God Rest His Soul I loved him...) Network..gotta see it right now! (I own DVD) John

[–] AndrewGS 8 years ago

I actually thought, though all the actors were great, some of Holden's dialogue was the only part that at times felt preachy or overly preachy, Duvall, Finch, Beatty and, aside from a few scenes, Dunaway delivered theirs with a lot of both conviction and naturalism.