Mad as Hell: The Making of Network and the Fateful Vision of the Angriest Man in Movies

The mid-1970s witnessed a renaissance in American cinema, with Network (1976)included among the many classics of that period. What makes that film all the more remarkable is that the driving force behind it was not the vision of the director or skill of the actors, but the tenacity of an often-sidelined player in the moviemaking process. Oscar-winning screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky, though, built his career upon a refusal to be sidelined. Itzkoff (Cocaine's Son; Lads), culture reporter for the New York Times, chronicles the making of the film from the first seeds of Chayefsky's idea through casting, production, promotion, and ultimate critical and commercial success. Throughout, he illustrates the tension between the creator and the works produced. An interesting wrap-up comparing Network's prophecies to the modern mass media news scene, along with a few judicious touches of Hollywood gossip, bring a wide general appeal to this work.