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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 yo... 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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The Fountainhead Quotes:

Howard Roark: A building has integrity, just as a man and just as seldom! It must be true to its own idea, have its own form, and serve its own purpose!
Howard Roark: Before you can do things for people, you must be the kind of man who can get things done. But to get things done, you must love the doing, not the people! Your own work, not any possible object of your charity. I'll be glad if men who need it find a better method of living in the house I built, but that's not the motive of my work, nor my reason, nor my reward! My reward, my purpose, my life, is the work itself - my work done my way! Nothing else matters to me!
Howard Roark: I am an architect. I know what is to come by the principle on which it is built. We are approaching a world in which I cannot permit myself to live. My ideas are my property. They were taken from me by force, by breach of contract. No appeal was left to me. It was believed that my work belonged to others, to do with as they pleased. They had a claim upon me without my consent. That is was my duty to serve them without choice or reward. Now you know why I dynamited Cortlandt. I designed Cortlandt, I made it possible, I destroyed it. I agreed to design it for the purpose of seeing it built as I wished. That was the price I set for my work. I was not paid. My building was disfigured at the whim of others who took all the benefits of my work and gave me nothing in return. I came here to say that I do not recognize anyone's right to one minute
Dominique Francon: I'll marry you. Don't you want to ask me any questions?
Gail Wynand: No.
Dominique Francon: Thank you. You're making it easier for me.
Gail Wynand: Whatever your reason, I shall accept it. What I want to find in our marriage will remain my own concern. I exact no promises and impose no obligations. Incidentally, since it is of no importance to you, I love you.
Ellsworth Toohey: Artistic value is achieved collectively by each man subordinating himself to the standards of the majority.
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The Fountainhead Facts
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.
Shot in early 1948 but not released until mid-1949.
The original novel was a favorite among America's armed forces, during World War II. The lengthy book helped pass the time when things were slow, and it provided inspiration to the troops, to survive the war and build their own dreams after they got home.
Roark (Gary Cooper)'s courtroom speech was the longest in film history up until that time.
Ayn Rand wanted Clifton Webb to play the villain, but studio chiefs nixed the idea and Robert Douglas was cast instead.
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