TV Station Fengyun
Network
Rating: 9/10
Production: 1976 American
Director: Sidney Lumet
Screenplay: Paddy Chayefsky Paddy Chayefsky
Actor: William Holden (Michael Schumacher) )
Peter Finch Peter Finch (Howard Bill)
Faye Dunaway Faye Dunaway (Diana Christson)
Robert Duvall Robert Duvall (Frank Hackett)
Ned Beatty Ned Beatty (Ya Jason)
Length: 120 minutes
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Rating: R
Premiere: November 27, 1976
Sidney Lumet This movie is a serious comedy full of jokes, but Teasing is not the same as mocking. Behind the sharp irony, the film has an unstoppable sadness.
[Story]
1975, New York.
Howard Bill used to be the ace anchor of UBS's "Wireless News" program, but in recent years, with the death of his wife, his mental state and career have fallen to a trough. As the ratings of the show continued to fall, the company decided to fire him two weeks later. The head of the news department, Michael Schumacher, is Howard's old friend for many years. He had to tell Howard the news personally, and then they went to the bar to soothe their worries. A frustrated Howard suddenly said that he was going to commit suicide on TV. Michael joked, OK, then we can make a special report on homicide, disaster and war, called "Terror of the Week", and the ratings will surely increase.
No one thought that in the live TV broadcast the next day, Howard actually announced that he would commit suicide in the show a week later. This gaffe caused an uproar in the media, and the UBS TV network executives were even more angry. Frank Hackett, the chairman of the American communications company, who just took over UBS, flew into a rage in front of the TV network executives, but the sharp Michael noticed. , This ambitious new president’s spearhead is not simply directed at Howard, but at the entire news department under his charge. In the past year, the ratings of the Department of News programs have fallen and the losses have been severe. Frank Huck has long been interested in attacking them. Sure enough, at the board of directors the next morning, Frank Hackett announced the demotion of the press department without authorization. Michael became angry and found the former president of UBS Nelson. However, Nelson, who had no real power, was helpless.
In the evening’s live news broadcast, the original plan was for Howard to give a reasonable explanation to the audience for his gaffe the day before. However, Howard, who was deeply hopeless of the future, once again uttered his dissatisfaction and anger with the mental state of contemporary American citizens. You were on the scene at the time. With a complicated mood, he didn't stop Howard, but borrowed Howard's words of indignation to let out a bad breath.
Diana Christson is an ambitious young female producer at UBS. She is a workaholic, sharp-minded, decisive in situations, and good at using men. She is planning a rather adventurous TV show-using The terrorists (a group of armed anarchy that call themselves revolutionaries) took action videos themselves and made a series of violent shows similar to today's "Real TV". She was very interested in the "Howard Incident" and found it could be used, so she found the ratings survey results of the last two days to persuade Frank Hackett, the chairman of UBS who had an ambiguous relationship with her. What is deeply surprising is that Howard's "freak and mad" live broadcast accidentally caused a linear increase in ratings. Frank Hackett also felt profitable, so he decided to support this matter. At the regular breakfast meeting of the high-level TV network the next day, he overwhelmed conservatives and opponents with a strong attitude, and UBS decided to let Howard continue his "circus show."
This incident has come to a successful conclusion, but a new accident occurred between Diana and Michael. One night, Diana suddenly came to Michael’s office, under the pretext of making suggestions to "Wireless News", flirting with the American press veteran Michael as an admirer and female student. Michael could not resist Diana’s passion. Tempted, agreed to have dinner with her, and then they fell asleep together logically. Michael discovered that Diana is a new generation of TV personality full of news cells. She is extremely dangerous, but at the same time full of vitality and charm.
Howard Bill’s shows are getting more and more crazy. Although the ratings have been rising-American audiences who are in the mid-1970s are extremely depressed and morally imbalanced. Obviously they approve of his crazy performance, but Michael is soberly aware By the time, this old friend of his was already insane. He strongly urged to stop the show, and Frank Hackett, who had long been dissatisfied with him, took the opportunity to fire him. Howard was gradually losing control and disappeared for a whole day for no reason. He was drenched in the heavy rain. When he rushed to the TV station, the show had already started. He rushed into the live broadcast room and roared at the camera, suggesting that the audience before the TV festival should scream with him. Called to vent the inner anger and depression. Interestingly, audiences all over the United States have indeed received this "call" from Howard. For a while, it seems that the entire United States is sticking out the window and screaming in the dark. Michael watched this crazy scene, dumbfounding. After this episode was broadcast, the ratings of UBS "Wireless News" once again soared.
Diana began to implement her "Real TV" plan. Through an intermediary, she has contacted and formally signed a contract with a notorious armed anarchy. These terrorists are responsible for providing film sources to the TV network, and the profits are divided according to the contract. She bundled several highly provocative programs together and made a bold revision of "Wireless News", combining violence, divination, etc. with Howard's "Crazy Prophet in the Air". News programs quickly became the backbone of UBS.
Michael took the initiative to find Diana, he had fallen in love with this dangerous woman hopelessly, and the two came together again. Diana is indeed an extraordinary workaholic, sensitive to TV news beyond the times, but she is really not a qualified woman, because even when making love, she can not stop chattering about the frenetic outlook on work, but Mike Er, still live with her without hesitation. The blunt Michael chose to show his wife. Although he was very frank, his wife felt very angry and pained after hearing the news. Michael moved out of his home and lived with Diana.
UBS and the terrorists further refined their contracts. At the same time, UBS held an annual commendation meeting. Diana became the company's new vice chairman, and her career reached an unprecedented peak. However, on the day of the reception, Howard broke through the inside story of the "illegal trading" between the United Broadcasting Corporation's executives and Arabs in the program. He called on the American people to condemn the matter and put pressure on the White House to send a telegram. The next day, the White House actually received millions of telegrams from all over the United States. As the executive chairman of UBS, Frank Hackett was furious again. He worried that President Arthur Jason would fire himself for this. But unexpectedly, the mysterious behind-the-scenes boss Arthur Jason asked to see Howard immediately.
In Arthur Jason’s dark conference room, Howard heard the most naked speech of a real modern big capitalist. Jason’s theories about monopoly, dictatorship, and the overwhelming of the weak greatly stimulated him, and he was deeply impressed by it and absurd. I thought that what I saw was actually God himself. Howard returned to his show and easily erased the attack on the capitalist chaebol in yesterday's show, and instead talked about the empty philosophy of existence and continued similar topics. The content of his conversations became more and more depressing, less marginal, the show lost a large number of young viewers, and the ratings have also fallen sharply.
At this time, Michael and Diana's irrational extramarital relationship was finally on the verge of collapse. They quarreled almost every day, and finally had to admit that they had serious differences in life and journalistic morality, and they still had love for each other. , But they did not compromise with each other, the ending had to be a breakup.
The new round of investigation results show that Howard's program has posed a threat to the overall ratings of UBS. UBS executives finally decided to cut the program, but President Jason firmly disagreed. After weighing the pros and cons, UBS senior executives even planned an appalling murder live broadcast-Howard was shot and killed by two assassins during the live broadcast. The killer was the group of anarchists in Diana's other show. Howard was really shot dead at the live broadcast, but the war on TV ratings is still not over. The voice-over said calmly: "This is the story of Howard Earle, the first case where he was brutally killed because of low ratings."
[Appreciation]
Director Sidney Lumet has always been good at controlling characters and scenes. The dramatic tension of "Twelve Angry Men" is his most exciting early masterpiece, and this film was filmed in the mid-1970s of "TV Station Wind and Cloud". ", the spearhead was directed at the television industry that once had a huge impact on the American film industry (destructive blow), but Lu Meite’s move was not a malicious revenge by the filmmakers against the television people. Although the whole film is full of unscrupulous means to TV producers and the brazen and ugly exaggeration and ridicule of the consortium behind the scenes, as a whole, its serious thinking on the TV industry itself and the far-reaching impact of TV on national life, etc., still reflects Lü Meite’s unique perspective and talent as an artist who uses the lens to make social criticism.
Before analyzing this movie, we need to emphasize one detail first. The so-called UBS in the film: United Broadcasting Corporation, is actually a fictional creation by Lumet. ), CBS, American Broadcasting Company (ABC))-companies of the same name, it does not exist.
There are four levels of the director's reflection and suspicion on television. They rely on and convey each other, which fully embodies Lu Meite's keen social sense in the first golden age of television development. The first level of reflection is more obvious. It is first of all suspicion of the host (anchor), represented in the film by Howard Beal. Howard Bill used to be UBS’s ace news anchor, but the shadow of his family life has had a huge impact on his mental health. The death of his wife made him suddenly realize his loneliness, but at this time the company made a ruthless move to get him out of the house. The decision, this undoubtedly aggravated his frustration and anger, so he brought a joke to the live TV, which triggered a chain reaction that followed. However, his first two "irregular" actions can still be regarded as a professional news anchor's resentment towards the company, with only elements of revenge and mischief. However, the subsequent developments have led him to hell. Enlarge his grotesque behavior infinitely. From declining ratings to dismissal and then to show hits, he himself became a TV myth. His spiritual world experienced violent turbulence. He had hallucinations, began to be hysterical and fainted. He spoke nonsense to the camera, but the most ironic The thing is, the more he loses his mind, the more popular this program is by the American people and the higher the ratings. Anyone who encounters this kind of situation will easily lose themselves, but at this time the company kicks away the old friend who knows him best, and his world has lost the last rational, sober and trustworthy person. So Jason, the president of UBS, took advantage of the vacancy and became his "God" and a catalyst for his renewed excitement. He went crazy and became a clown in front of the TV. This is a comedy, a farce, and also a tragedy. All the stories revolve around this irrational character... If a host can lose control and lose control under the eyes of everyone, TV can condone this kind of alienation for the sake of ratings. , And maliciously guide and control the audience, then the host as an individual, is his power too inflated? This is probably the first level of reflection and suspicion by Lumet on television. As an individual who cannot be without flaws, how reliable is the host (anchor), and who will control his irresponsible words and deeds? Because the judges and thoughts of the host will be amplified by the TV, but it will have a subtle influence on the judgments and thoughts of the public, and we have to be cautious.
The second layer of suspicion in the film is the suspicion of TV people. The television people who appeared in the film are divided into two categories. One is the front-line workers who deal with daily news, such as the crazy Howard, the dismissed head of the news department Michael, and the ambitious female producer Diana; the second is The executives and shareholders of the TV network are not directly involved in TV production, but they actually influence and determine the direction and level of TV production, such as UBS chairman Frank and his behind-the-scenes president Jason. Frontline journalists may have mental illness, but what is even more frightening is the female producer who decides to use mental illness as a selling point. Diana is a typical media activist and speculator. She has a keen sense of smell and unscrupulous means. Not only did she encourage high-level officials to use "unconventional means" to increase ratings, but she also planned and implemented a combination of television and terrorism. The "freedom of the press" she admired is full of deceptiveness. If she finds that Howard's crazy words can increase ratings, and immediately seizes this opportunity to turn UBS news programs over, she consciously introduces popular entertainment into news programs Production belongs to the keenness of a professional journalist. She sprouted and produced lesbian TV shows to reflect her advanced consciousness, so cooperating with terrorists to shoot violent TV shows revealed that her journalistic values are not truly advocating freedom of the press. And news justice, and it is precisely to lead news to the road of speculation, and to the extreme. Her fascination with personal spiritual expansion is far greater than her love for news, and her extremely cold personality is the root cause that prompted Michael to break up with her, and it is with such meticulous foreshadowing that she finally murdered. The decision will not appear abrupt and absurd. However, in addition to the crazy anchor and the crazy woman, Lu Meite also placed another important figure on the front line of TV news, Michael.
Michael is the embodiment of traditional journalistic morality. He is experienced, full of justice and compassion. When his friends encountered setbacks, he took the initiative to persuade him. He always had a calm and objective attitude towards work. He would also hit the nail on the head with bureaucrats and uninitiated bosses, and lost his job for this. But he is not a spotless gentleman. When he realized that his future is hopeless and discouraged, Diana's simple teasing made him deviate. When he lost his job and the journalism he had been fighting for all his life, he would not hesitate to give up on each other. His wife chose to be with Diana. It should be said that Michael's choice of Diana is still idealistic. What he chose is not a woman, but a news person representing the rising power. What he fell in love with was not a woman who did not know how to make love, but a woman who did not know how to make love. Strong taste of TV people. Michael is indeed a complete idealist. Even his lover is part of his ideals, but he is not a lunatic. He maintains a calm bystander attitude towards the news, a strong feeling of repentance towards his wife, and even towards Diana. Although he was soberly aware that this was a woman who was completely different from himself and was destined to part ways, he still expressed his love before leaving. This is a very contradictory role. Lumet did not let him act as a simple moral ruler in the film, but also gave him a complicated character.
In addition to Howard, Diana and Michael, another important television representative is Frank, the chairman of BUS, who is an ambitious and a coward. As the newly appointed UBS chairman of the American communications company that purchased UBS, his first scene was not to relieve the current crisis of the TV network (Howard suicide live broadcast), but to actively combat and eliminate the real power of the original UBS. Characters, clearing the obstacles on his path to power, Michael is the victim of this political struggle. After he mastered the real power of UBS, he did not show his own news justice. In fact, he did not understand news at all. Whenever the TV network had a crisis, he would only rant. He only cared about the ratings and company profits. At the first high-level breakfast meeting, he also bluntly said: TV is a juggling, TV is a circus! Lumet was very alert to this view, but he did not make a hasty conclusion-what is TV? It's probably nothing, it's like a piece of plasticine, it's what it makes! So who will make the decision is very important. This is Lu Meite's reflection on TV people.
The third layer of thinking in the film is aimed at news. What is news? If Diana’s terrorist news, shooting anchor news is news? So where is the justice of the news? If news can be made, what is the meaning of news? Is there true freedom of speech and press justice for news organizations controlled by the interests of the consortium? Is there a relatively correct development direction for TV news? Lu Meite is keenly aware that the news industry has a huge social influence, and if this influence is not controlled, it will cause serious consequences. Personal ambition and self-interest are likely to cause harm, but those with conscience Journalists must constantly reflect on the meaning and value of news in such a moral anxiety.
The final reflection of the film is directed at the TV itself. Since TV people are not perfect people, and these imperfect people control TV with imperfect behaviors, such as introducing naked violence into TV, and even using TV (the UBS president Jason in the film successfully used the spirit The fragile Howard solved the company’s political dilemma), so what is TV? There are many ironic scenes in the film. For example, Howard the madman suggested that everyone stand in front of the window and shout. As a result, the entire United States ran to the window to shout. He asked everyone to send a telegram to the White House. The next day, the White House really received a few Millions of telegrams-the immense incitement of television is shocking. If Howard's crazy live broadcast continues, will it become a crazy cult in the United States? This may be a joke, but it cannot be laughed off. It is a timely reminder by Lu Meite of the possible demonization of public opinion caused by television. As a powerful media, the influence of television is beyond the imagination of ordinary people, especially in contemporary society, especially in the 1970s before the emergence of the Internet. It has a strong ideological guidance. It can control speech and reverse right and wrong. Black and white, especially live broadcast, can immediately interact with the audience, so the damage it may cause is especially serious-in this respect, its energy is far greater than that of movies. So who controls the TV? political party? Consortium? All these are interest groups. It is impossible not to infiltrate their thoughts and authority through television. So who will supervise them?
Since the 1970s, Chinese TV has also experienced a tumultuous development process. Today, this situation can be used as a realistic reference for us to watch this movie. Even if you think about the development of Chinese TV, you will feel that this movie What the movie tells is actually right in front of you.
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