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Network   1976         R, 120 min. Genre: Drama Director: Sidney Lumet   Cast: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Beatrice Straight, Ned Beatty, Wesley Addy, Arthur Burghardt, Darryl Hickman, Lane Smith, Bill Burrows, John Carpenter, Jordan Charney, Kathy Cronkite, Ed Crowley   The United Broadcasting System decides to fire its dean of newscasters, Howard Beale (Peter Finch). His friend, network executive Max Schumacher (William Holden), announces that Beale is being fired, and Beale responds by telling the audience that he will be committing suicide on the next show. The head of the network, Frank Hackett (Robert Duvall), wants to get rid of Beale immediately—until he realizes that the network will have the highest ratings ever when Beale commits suicide on the air—and programming exec Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) talks him into airing the show. The show goes on, but Hackett does not commit suicide and, instead, announces, "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" He is suffering a nervous breakdown, but the ratings of his television news show skyrocket, and Hackett becomes a TV icon. This film provides great satire on the greed inherent in television networks as they fight for top ratings. Oscars were won by Faye Dunaway (Best Actress), Peter Finch (Best Actor), and Beatrice Straight (Best Supporting Actress). Six nominations were also received, including Best Picture, Actor (William Holden), Supporting Actor (Ned Beatty) and Director. Cast Faye Dunaway Diana Christensen William Holden Max Schumacher Peter Finch Howard Beale Robert Duvall Frank Hackett Beatrice Straight Louise Schumacher Ned Beatty Arthur Jensen Wesley Addy Nelson Chaney Arthur Burghardt Great Ahmed Kahn Darryl Hickman Bill Herron Lane Smith Robert McDonough Bill Burrows TV Director John Carpenter George Bosch Jordan Charney Harry Hunter Kathy Cronkite Mary Ann Gifford Ed Crowley Joe Donnelly