Great Character: Howard Beale (“Network”)

It’s one of the most memorable movie roles in the last 50 years: TV anchorman become crazed prophet, and Dark Mentor Howard Beale, an Oscar-winning role for actor Peter Finch in the 1976 movie Network:

A TV network cynically exploits a deranged ex-TV anchor’s ravings and revelations about the media for their own profit.

Written by the inimitable Paddy Chayefsky, the movie is a searing satire on television, the broadcast news industry, and pop culture, and Beale is the voice of a suddenly not so silent majority.

Who can forget this speech:

Here is the movie version of the scene:

Beale’s wrath draws the ire of corporate bigwig Arthur Jensen:

Here is the movie version of the scene:

Which leads to this:

Which leads to Beale’s assassination:

Network along with Dr. Strangelove and Being There are perhaps the three greatest social satires of the modern era, and Howard Beale stands out as a truly great character.

You may read the screenplay here. It’s filled with great monologues and is more relevant to today’s media environment than ever before.

For more articles in the Great Character series, go here.

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