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.

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

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