An Enemy of the People (1978)

A scientist stands against an entire town when he discovers their medicinal spa is polluted.

Director:

George Schaefer

Writers:

Arthur Miller (adaptation), Alexander Jacobs (screenplay)

Stars:

Steve McQueen, Bibi Andersson, Charles Durning

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve McQueen	...	Dr. Thomas Stockmann
Bibi Andersson	...	Catherine Stockmann
Charles Durning	...	Peter Stockmann
Richard Dysart	...	Aslaksen (as Richard A. Dysart)
Michael Cristofer	...	Hovstad
Michael Higgins	...	Billing
Eric Christmas	...	Morten Kiil
Robin Pearson Rose	...	Petra Stockmann
Richard Bradford	...	Captain Forster
John Levin	...	Ejlif Stockmann
Ham Larsen	...	Morten Stockmann
Louise Hoven	...	Randine
Glenn Ransom
Leon Charles
Harry Frazier

Storyline

It's winter in a small southern Norwegian town in the late nineteenth century. After years of struggling, Dr. Thomas Stockmann and his family - his wife Catherine, their young adult daughter Petra, and their two adolescent sons Ejlif and Morten - have returned to town after being away for five years up north, he now well respected and successful as the medical resident of the Health Institute at Kirsten Springs, where he is also a board member. He devised the springs and institute as a center of therapeutic benefits on his own, but developed it with his brother, the town mayor, Peter Stockmann, who is the board chair. They have reinvigorated what was the financially crumbling town. Peter takes credit for giving Thomas this air of respectability, something that has never been important to Thomas, who would rather be seen as a man of conviction in doing the right thing. In this respect, Petra takes after her father. Thomas often writes articles for the local activist newspaper, The ...

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Plot Keywords:

based on play | tannery | doctor | health spa | small town | 

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Taglines:

The story of a man of courage.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

El enemigo del pueblo

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Artists, Solar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (opening and end sequence) Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Steve McQueen's first return to a movie role since his "retirement" after The Towering Inferno, in which he was one of the biggest box office draws, thereafter rejecting offer after offer (including Close Encounters of the Third Kind and William Friedkin's Sorcerer) until this very small, yet important, part came along.

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Quotes

Catherine Stockmann: When did this get torn?
Dr. Thomas Stockmann: It happened last night.
Catherine Stockmann: You're best pair.
Dr. Thomas Stockmann: It just shows you, when you go out and fight for truth, never wear you're best pants.

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Connections

Version of ITV Play of the Week: An Enemy of the People (1957)

User Reviews

Brilliant!

Steve McQueen made a career out of playing action roles, and although he played with a certain sense of cerebrality, by 1977 he wanted to prove that he could "act", in the classic sense. He proves beyond a doubt that he can in "An Enemy of The People", which was adapted from a play by Norwegian playwright Heinrik Ibsen.

McQueen gives a sublime performance in a film that was never properly released, promoted, or issued on video simply because the filmmakers didn't know what to do with it. It was a complete 360 degree turnaround role for McQueen, it's based on a play that, although famous, isn't well known by people who aren't college students, and they simply didn't know how to market it.

All the actors for this film were well chosen and all turn in excellent performances. McQueen himself certainly looks the part of the town doctor with his granny glasses, professor's 3 piece suit, and long shaggy beard.

It should be noted that this does appear on PBS from time to time, and videotaped versions of this are floating around. If you get a chance to see it, whether on tv or on someones videotaped version, then by all means do so.