Network (movie)
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Template:Infobox Movie Network is a 1976 satirical film which tells about a television network named Union Broadcasting System (UBS) and its struggle with poor TV ratings. When the network news anchor finds out he is being fired, he goes on the air announcing this as well as his intent to commit suicide in his final broadcast. His statement, and his subsequent on-air ranting, causes ratings to skyrocket, something the network is willing to take advantage of. The film is a cynical look at the way networks make decisions about programming and the disdain that they show for the audience.
The movie stars Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty and Beatrice Straight. Tim Robbins has a brief nonspeaking part. It was written by Paddy Chayefsky, and was directed by Sidney Lumet.
It won Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Peter Finch, posthumously), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Faye Dunaway), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Beatrice Straight) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (William Holden), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ned Beatty), Best Cinematography (Owen Roizman), Best Film Editing (Alan Heim), Best Director, and Best Picture.
Beatrice Straight's performance is the shortest Oscar-winning performance in history. She is on film for less than six minutes.
In 2000 the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.