The Fountainhead
Seen it?1949 | 112 min | Drama, Romance
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics. If you loved The Age of Innocence or Brooklyn, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 52 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An uncompromising, visionary architect struggles to maintain his integrity and individualism despite personal, professional and economic pressures to conform to popular standards.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
83% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$3 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 70K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by King Vidor
- Gary CooperHoward Roark
- Patricia NealDominique Francon
- Raymond MasseyGail Wynand
- Kent SmithPeter Keating
- Robert DouglasElsworth Toohey
- Henry HullHenry Cameron
- Ray CollinsRoger Enright
- Moroni OlsenChairman
- Jerome CowanAlvah Scarret
- Bob AldenNewsboy (uncredited)