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The 1949 film of “The Fountainhead”,
scripted by Rand, unusually had a few showings in London over the
last couple of weeks, so I went to see it.
I wondered how well TF would translate
to film. My preconception was that movies are better at action than
ideas. I'm conscious that Rand's novels are pretty intellectual and
philosophical, and her characters have a way of breaking into long
set-piece speeches which is arguably a bit un-novelistic and even
more un-filmic. I've read with interest about the plans to film
“Atlas Shrugged”, but wondered a little how on earth one could do
it.
I checked out what Internet
commentators, including both movie fans and objectivists, had to say
about the film,and got essentially a lot of gripes. Was Gary Cooper
too old? Did the architecture look right? Was the sexual symbolism
(drills, skyscrapers) too unsubtle? Was the romantic orchestral score
a bit much? Would the images disrupt one's internal visions of the
characters?
So I went in with (I hope) an open
mind, but also a degree of scepticism. I should also say that I'm
more a reader than a viewer, and that when I do see films they tend
to be modern rather than vintage. The last old film I remember
seeing was Chaplin's “Great Dictator” (also highly recommended,
by the way).
In the event, I thought the film of
“The Fountainhead” was absolutely great.
Yes, it's a late-40s Hollywood movie
and conforms to the conventions of its place and time. But then
these guys were seriously good at making movies, and it's not hard to
suspend your disbelief and live with those conventions. Yes, quite a
lot of the content of the novel ends up on the cutting room floor.
But then a good screenwriter knows that a film is something different
from a book, and works with that, even if it's not the case (as here)
that the screenwriter is also the novelist. Some of the incidents
may have gone, but the message is intact.
The movie – perhaps even more than
the novel? - is absolutely clear and purposeful. Every scene makes
its point and has its place in the argument. Not a word or a shot is
wasted.
I guess there are two ways of looking
at the film. If you're coming at it as a Rand enthusiast, looking
for a work of art you can appreciate, then see it – it's good.
Another way of looking at it, though, is as a vehicle for advocacy
and education in objectivism. Several times I've tried to introduce
friends to Rand's ideas. While a paperback copy of “The
Fountainhead” or “Atlas Shrugged” can be an inexpensive
present, not everyone is immediately turned on by the prospect of
eleven hundred pages of tiny print. I know some people advocate
“Anthem” as a starter, and I can see why they do, although
personally I find the fantasy setting of that book less compelling
that the more-or-less modern contexts of the late great novels. I'd
suggest that the film of “The Fountainhead” could well be a fine
alternative easy way in to Rand's thought. I understand from
amazon.com that it will be out on DVD very soon. (I only hope the US
DVD works in Europe.)
Happy to discuss!
Adrian
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