The Fountainhead

Rating:
Summary: One word: Injustice!
Review: The Ayn Rand Institute should hunt down every copy of this video and destroy it. If you've read the book and haven't yet seen the movie... don't. The characters are shallow and the storyline is, well, to be desired. All I know is I loved the book and practically cried when I saw what a mess they made of the movie. But that's just my opinion. SEC

Rating:
Summary: Hmmm...
Review: I'll admit it, after reading Rand's lengthy "Atlas Shrugged" I was, to put it mildly, thrilled to discover the "Fountainhead" was made into a movie. Granted I have become a fan of Rand's, but the movie is lacking depth. I was suprised to see it is only an hour and fifty-four minute movie and it shows. The acting is the best as can be expected with the task undertaken. The sets are fabulous despite the age of the film. Loved the lighting and camera angles, but the plot was a bit dry. The portrayal of the only female character, except for a one-liner by a secretary (thought executives had male secretaries back then), is excellent. Watch Patricia Neal's eyes while in the throws of depicting Dominique- fabulous. But Dominique, though in liking to Rand's female characters, is a tad of a melodramatist. Gary Cooper as Howard Roak gives a fine performance. But I was more enthralled with the acrhitecture, as probably most were when the movie was first released in 1949. All and all a competent movie for those who are interested in testing the waters of Rand's Objectivism, but not wanting to read the book. A cliche' but it works. =-)

Rating:
Summary: Flawed but generally absorbing film about...architecture?
Review: As TV Guide puts it every time this film airs on the tube, "The Fountainhead" is a "flawed but generally absorbing" movie (still the greatest comment on a film I have ever heard). Of course since it is Hollywood the romantic angle between iconoclast architect and rugged individual Howard Roark (Gary Cooper) and chic architect critic Dominique Francon (Patricia Neal) becomes more of a focal point than it ever was in the novel, although you would have to think that the affair that started between the two actors during the making of this film must have had more spark than they showed on screen. Still, all things considered, it is surprising that the gist of Ayn Rand's philosophy survived relatively intact in Roark's big speech at his trial. The film centers around a love triangle between Roark, Francon and her husband, Gail Wynand (Raymond Massey), who flip-flops between being Roark's patron and critic the way his wife bounces between her husband and her lover. However, the point is not about love but about the individual versus the collective and the choices that all of the other characters need to make when Roark is put on trial for refusing to submit his gift to the whims of the masses. The problem is that you will have a hard time getting past the Freudian imagery (e.g., Roark at the quarry with the big drill, the final shot atop the skyscraper). If the movie inspires you to read "The Fountainhead," that would be fine, because if you are going to judge Rand's philosophy you need to do it off the novel and certainly not off of this film (or its incredibly lousy cover).

Rating:
Summary: King Vidor's Fountainhead Fantasy
Review: First let me get to the REAL reason I watched this film over and over again. PATRICIA NEAL IS SO BEAUTIFUL I COULD NOT TAKE MY EYES OFF HER. That being said, this is an unforgettable film that may even change your life. Raymond Massey gives a great performance in his usual "King Cutler" manner as Gail Wynand the publisher who rose from Hell's Kitchen to become a "man of the people". The characters are unrealistic but interesting. Especially Toohey as the villain. The musical score DOMINATES the film. In fact, you will remember the score better than the story. Gary Cooper gives a stiff performance but in consideration that the character is considered odd, his work fits the film. Now everyone knows that it is based on the Philosophy of Ayn Rand and the cult of individualism over collective control. In reflecting those values we get some real and unreal scenes. I can't for the life of me see why there would be protests and riots because "The Banner" defends Roark or over the building of "The Enright House". What is realistic are insidious and evil individuals trying to sway the public through their own propaganda to agree with them in prosecuting others (in this case Roark, the symbol of ultimate individualism). Rand was a big fan of the legal system as a vindication of truth and uses the vehicle as she did in "Penthouse Legend" again to give this picture a dramatic climax. What was not worthwhile was how she handled the Wynand character, committing suicide because he did not stand up for his principles all the way. You end up feeling sorry for Wynand and the seeming inability to restore the friendship that he has with Roark. When this picture is shown on television, it is CUT to shreds. So much so that one night the first scene was when Dominique Francon is shown throwing the statue of the god out the window!(almost 20 minutes into the picture!) Now of couse we desire an uncut DVD. Polished and full of extras about Ayn Rand. Please, as soon as possible, give us what we want or you may see rioting and protests at the local DVD distributor-signed Ellsworth M. Toohey.

Rating:
Summary: End Fascism Now!
Review: This is one of those timeless stories that I believe will get more and more relevant as time goes on (especially when we have President's like Bush in the White House.) But I digress...Great filmmaking and acting by a stellar cast that includes Gary Cooper as Howard Rourke and Patricial Neal as Dominic Francon. Having been a HUGE fan of the novel I was completely taken in by the film. Ayn Rand wrote the script and it is one of her best (she also wrote the original screenplay for one of my favorite films of all time "Love Letters" starring Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones.) Beautiful, striking cinematography and a note perfect score by the legendary Max Steiner make this a must see in my book.

Rating:
Summary: You don't need to know about the book to enjoy this film
Review: While it was based on Ayn Rand's book, Ayn Rand personally altered the story to adapt it to film. It is a great movie that really makes the viewer think about many things including individualism, selfishness, and even what is right and wrong. For many people who take these notions as given from a very young, questioning them with an adult mind is a good idea. If you enjoy this movie, be sure to pick up and read some of Ayn Rand's non-fiction.

Rating:
Summary: A movie with a BIG MESSAGE!
Review: Absolutely enjoyable melodrama extraordinaire played with relish by all concerned. One favourite moment is when Patricia Neal is caught at home during business hours by her employer, Raymond Massey managing editor of The Banner newspaper (cf New York Post),as she drops a white statuette artifact from her 20th floor NY apartment, watching it smash to pieces on the concrete below. When queried by her boss why, she explains she loves the statuette so much, it's so perfect, she has to destroy it because she does not want to be dependent on anything. The sexual imagery is also wonderfully Freudian and rich such as the long moment when Ms Neal as Dominique visits the quarry where Mr Cooper as the uncompromising architect Howard Roark is working as a labourer as he is unwilling to compromise his artistic integrity. He stands there with the large drill extended in front of him whilst they exchange one of the longest most smoldering looks in cinematic history, her eyes dropping to the drill, the touch of a smirk/smile on his lips. The finale is a classic Freudian moment, as we watch Ms Neal ascend the tallest phallic symbol in New York and experience the religious/sexual ecstasy of complete fulfilment. A truly wonderful moment given aural power by the lush music of Max Steiner. All the actors have a field day, but for the great actor Raymond Massey, it may have been one of his greatest performances. Nor should one overlook the brilliance of Robert Douglas as the newspaper's critic, who is worthy of comparison with George Sanders in All About Eve. Forget the weird philisophy of the film which would probably be endorsed by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who once famously said "There is no such thing as society. Just individuals." This is a movie for movie lovers and students of great cinema.