November 14, 1976 –
Sidney Lumet’s black comedy/drama Network, written by Paddy Chayefsky and starring Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty, and Beatrice Straight, premiered on this date.
According to Sidney Lumet, the “Mad as Hell” speech was filmed in one and a half takes. Midway through the second take, Peter Finch abruptly stopped in exhaustion. Lumet was unaware of Finch’s failing heart at the time, but in any case, did not ask for a third take. The complete film features the second half of the first take and the first half of the second take.
