The Fountainhead Overview:

The Fountainhead (1949) was a Drama - Film Adaptation Film directed by King Vidor and produced by Henry Blanke.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Ayn Rand published in 1943.

The Fountainhead BlogHub Articles:

THE FOUNTAINHEAD ( 1949 )

By Theresa Brown on Apr 8, 2016 From CineMaven's Essays from the Couch

They say there?s no frigate like a book. But what happens when you turn a frigate into a movie? What?ve you got then? Now Voyaging and Speakeasy have partnered up again to host this weekend?s ?BOOK TO COVER: Books to Film Blogathon.? It?s pretty self-explanatory: ?This blogathon is your opportunity... Read full article


The Fountainhead (1949)

By Beatrice on Jun 10, 2015 From Flickers in Time

The Fountainhead Directed by King Vidor Written by Ayn Rand based on her novel 1949/USA Warner Bros. First viewing/Hulu Plus I cannot fully express my feelings about this film without spoilers. ?Normally, I would suggest that my readers watch the film first but in this case I wouldn’t go ... Read full article


The Fountainhead, Often and Oftener Viewings Makes It Better and Better

By C. S. Williams on Dec 8, 2014 From Classic Film Aficionados

With each viewing of The Fountainhead rather than growing tired of the 65 year old picture, I admire it more and more. Raymond Massey was never more sleazy (in the first two-thirds of the movie), Cooper, strong, silent, never more Cooperesque than in The Fountainhead and Patricia Neal, never more be... Read full article


The Fountainhead, Often and Oftener Viewings Makes It Better and Better

By C. S. Williams on Dec 8, 2014 From Classic Film Aficionados

With each viewing of The Fountainhead rather than growing tired of the 65 year old picture, I admire it more and more. Raymond Massey was never more sleazy (in the first two-thirds of the movie), Cooper, strong, silent, never more Cooperesque than in The Fountainhead and Patricia Neal, never more be... Read full article


The Fountainhead, Often and Oftener Viewings Makes It Better and Better

By C. S. Williams on Dec 8, 2014 From Classic Film Aficionados

With each viewing of The Fountainhead rather than growing tired of the 65 year old picture, I admire it more and more. Raymond Massey was never more sleazy (in the first two-thirds of the movie), Cooper, strong, silent, never more Cooperesque than in The Fountainhead and Patricia Neal, never more be... Read full article


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Quotes from The Fountainhead

Peter Keating: You can't hope to survive unless you learn how to compromise. Now, watch me! In just a few short years I'll shoot to the top of the architectural profession because I'm going to give the public what it wants.


Howard Roark: The creator stands on his own judgment. The parasite follows the opinions of others. The creator thinks, the parasite copies. The creator produces, the parasite loots. The creator's concern is the conquest of nature - the parasite's concern is the conquest of men. The creator requires independence, he neither serves nor rules. He deals with men by free exchange and voluntary choice. The parasite seeks power, he wants to bind all men together in common action and common slavery. He claims that man is only a tool for the use of others. That he must think as they think, act as they act, and live is selfless, joyless servitude to any need but his own. Look at history. Everything thing we have, every great achievement has come from the independent work of some independent mind. Every horror and destruction came from attempts to force men into a herd of brainless, soulless robots. Without personal rights, without personal ambition, without will, hope, or dignity. It is an ancient conflict. It has another name: the individual against the collective.


Howard Roark: No creator was prompted by a desire to please his brothers. His brothers hated the gift he offered. His truth was his only motive. His work was his only goal. His work, not those who used it, his creation, not the benefits others derived from it. The creation which gave form to his truth. He held his truth above all things, and against all men. He went ahead whether others agreed with him or not. With his integrity as his only banner. He served nothing, and no one. He lived for himself. And only by living for himself was he able to achieve the things which are the glory of mankind. Such is the nature of achievement.


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Facts about The Fountainhead

Ayn Rand wanted Clifton Webb to play the villain, but studio chiefs nixed the idea and Robert Douglas was cast instead.
Ayn Rand was furious when she heard that Howard Roark's speech at the trial was being trimmed, chiefly because it was considered long, rambling and confusing, especially to Gary Cooper who didn't understand it. She got the studio to make sure that the speech was untouched and in its entirety in the finished product.
The film's failure was largely attributed to Gary Cooper, who at 47 was much older than his twenty-something character and was considered by many critics to be unconvincing playing a man with high ideals.
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Also directed by King Vidor




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Also produced by Henry Blanke




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