Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (1997)

Director:

Michael Paxton

Writer:

Michael Paxton (writer)

Release Date:

13 February 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Tagline:

A Life More Compelling Than Fiction

Plot:

Ayn Rand was born in 1905 in St. Petersberg, Russia. She escaped to America in 1926 amidst the rise of Soviet Communism...

Plot Keywords:

Narration | Philosophy | Author | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Sharon Gless	...	Narrator (voice)
Michael S. Berliner	...	Himself (editor of Rand's letters) (as Dr. Michael S. Berliner)
Harry Binswanger	...	Himself (professor, friend) (as Dr. Harry Binswanger)
Sylvia Bokor	...	Herself (artist)
Daniel E. Greene	...	Himself (artist)
Cynthia Peikoff	...	Herself (friend, secretary)
Leonard Peikoff	...	Himself (intellectual heir, friend) (as Dr. Leonard Peikoff)
Al Ramrus	...	Himself (writer, producer)
John Ridpath	...	Himself (professor, York University) (as Dr. John Ridpath)
Mike Wallace	...	Himself (CBS News correspondent) (also archive footage)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Janne Peters	...	Kay Gonda
Peter Sands	...	Dietrich von Esterhazy

Runtime:

145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

AG Media Corporation Ltd.

Movie Connections:

References Duel in the Sun (1946)

Overlong but interesting

Documentary (narrated by Sharon Gless) about the life and times of author/philosopher Ayn Rand. Movies goes into exhaustive detail about her coming here from Russia, her "objectivism" philosophy, her books, her whole entire life. The film is too long (2 1/2 hours) and gets repititous at times (we hear about every single aspect of objectivism--it's not necessary and really weighs the movie down). Nonetheless, it is interesting and (I think) worth seeing for people who like or are interested in Rand. If you don't like her stay away.