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 ...

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

The tragedy of an honest man destroyed by a town's greed. [Video]

---

Genres:

Drama

---

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

Based on a play by the famous Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen.

---

Quotes

Hovstad: Isn't it time we pump some guts into these well-meaning little men? Though all their liberal talk, they still idolize authority.

---

Connections

Version of An Enemy of the People (1990)

User Reviews

A Triumph For Steve McQueen

Executive Producer and star Steve McQueen and director George Schaefer bring Henrik Ibsen's `An Enemy of the People' to the screen, giving life and imagery to the powerful words of this Master playwright. First performed on stage in Oslo in the 1880's, the story is every bit as pertinent today as it was when it was written, for the themes of right and wrong, principle and ideal, democracy and commitment are timeless. What must a man do when he knows he is right? How far should he be willing to go, how much sacrifice should be made in the name of the truth? Ibsen contends that there can be no shades of gray when it comes to such matters, that truth is nothing less than absolute, and must be maintained as such; honesty cannot be found in acquiescence to the solid majority. As Doctor Thomas Stockman, McQueen is the embodiment of morality; the good and the just, the voice of reason and truth crying out amid a wilderness of complacency, corruption and complicity, the individual against the masses. It's the strength of the pure against the desperate agenda of the moderates who would conspire and compromise away all that is holy for the sake of self-aggrandizement. This is a stirring and emotional story that exposes the heart of darkness which unfortunately dwells within the human spirit; but in doing so, it also serves to illuminate the magnanimity of that same spirit, as well. The construction is done with precision and the message is unequivocal; simply put, it is a masterful study of the human condition.

Ironically, the fate of this movie was ultimately decided by circumstances not unlike those within the story itself. Never released, still unavailable on video and very rarely shown on television (even cable, which seems quite inexplicable), the Powers that Be decided that this was not the Steve McQueen (heavier, with long hair and full beard) the public wanted to see; what `they' wanted (they contend) was a McQueen `with a gun in his hand,' and plenty of action. They decreed that a meaningful drama starring an action hero was somehow taboo. And that reasoning must be regarded now as nothing less than criminal. Because Steve McQueen is brilliant in this role; there is a depth and heart to his Stockman that wrings every bit of strength and truth out of Ibsen's words. Anyone who is lucky enough to have seen this film would agree, I believe, that its unavailability in not only unbelievable, but unforgivable. The wonderful Bibi Andersson also gives an exceptional performance here as Catherine Stockman, a part for which she could easily (and should) have received an Oscar nomination. The supporting cast includes Charles Durning (Peter Stockman), Richard Dysart (Aslaksen), Michael Cristofer (Hovstad), Michael Higgins (Billing), Eric Christmas (Morten), Robin Pearson Rose (Petra) and Richard Bradford (Captain Forster). `An Enemy of the People' is an excellent rendering of a timeless classic by one of the world's master dramatists; the movie itself is a classic in its own right. It took courage for McQueen to venture into this territory, but the result is indeed his triumph; this film deserves to be seen, and hopefully, through the magic of video, some day it will be. I rate this one 10/10.