When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ratings.
Writing
Chayefsky's sermon-dialogue that actors chew like raw meat.
Acting
Finch's live-wire meltdown; Dunaway's ratings-crazed shark.
Direction
Lumet's clinical eye—treating madness like a shareholder meeting.
Director
Sidney Lumet
Faye Dunaway
Diana Christensen
William Holden
Max Schumacher
Peter Finch
Howard Beale
Robert Duvall
Frank Hackett
Ned Beatty
Arthur Jensen
Beatrice Straight
Louise Schumacher
Wesley Addy
Nelson Chaney
Arthur Burghardt
Great Ahmed Kahn
Bill Burrows
TV Director
Jordan Charney
Harry Hunter
Kathy Cronkite
Mary Ann Gifford
Conchata Ferrell
Barbara Schlesinger
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Peter Finch died of a heart attack two months after winning his posthumous Oscar—the ultimate method performance.
The film's 'mad as hell' speech became an actual protest chant; Chayefsky later sued to stop real networks from using it ironically.
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