The Fountainhead (1949)

Directed by King Vidor. Starring Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, Raymond Massey, Robert Douglas, Kent Smith, Ray Collins, Henry Hull.

Ayn Rand’s literary caterwaul pushes the individualism vs. collectivism struggle to new levels of self-importance as Cooper’s stubborn architect swears upon constructing mankind’s most magnificent building, but is defied by compromise-by-committee (there’s also a love story tucked in there, but good gravy, who cares?). Turgid, didactic, heavy-handed, sanctimonious drivel, with the creator’s personal ideologies delivered fresh from the typewriter through the parted lips of the absurd characters; because the roles are ridiculous, the performances follow suit, so unnatural and melodramatic in their expressions and line readings they almost come off as deadpan parodies. Too laughable to be infuriating, but aside from gazing in stupefaction at how clumsy the messages are presented here, there’s nothing fun about sitting through this misbegotten enterprise. Scratch that—the geometric lines of light, shadow and form in the art direction make up one aspect that’s legitimately worthwhile in this disaster, so if you must watch, do so with the sound muted.

20/100