Is it the most famous train-related novel of all time? Probably. Does it feature the world's longest dialog? Definitely. The first installment coming to theaters next year.

It's come off as a kind of thrown together project, so wonder if it will be any good. I'll be interested to see how it updates the novel's 50s-era rail transportation economics to the modern day.







More here:
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I did my senior research for a Bachelor's in English lit on Atlas Shrugged. Still haven't gotten around to Fountainhead yet, and I don't know that I ever will...

Wow, that's a major undertaking. I didn't realize they were making a movie! I just read the book a few months ago...which seemed especially appropriate during our current economic times. The message is certainly needed now...less stifling government / more freedom and entrepreneurship. I wonder if the major studios will allow its release into the mass-market theaters (like Regal or AMC) or try to relegate it to only "speciality" theaters in selected cities?

"Who is John Galt?"

Wow, I had NO idea they were actually making a movie of it. If all that was said on the posted link is true, it can't HELP but be good.

If you've read Atlas Shrugged but not The Fountainhead - it's an interesting contrast as you can se many of the ideas Ayn Rand espoused in Atlas Shrugged in an earlier form in The Fountainhead. The Fountainhead kind of hits you right between the eyes, there's no mistaking what sort of philosophy she believes when you read that book. Atlas Shrugged adds a lot more meat of a story around the ideas and ideals.

The movie version of The Fountainhead is great, with Gary Cooper as Roark. Despite some plot changes, the meet of the message is Roark's big speech at the end and it is word for word fromt he novel - mainly because Ayn Rand herself wrote the screenplay and having that speech intact was one of her conditions.

--Randy

I hadn't heard anything about the movie for quite some time. It has been proposed many times, even way back before Ayn passed away, back around 1982 I think. It certainly will be interesting to see how the movie compares to the book. For those who have enjoyed the novels, she wrote several non fiction books, I suggest "Capitalism, the Unknown Ideal" Full of essays on various topics such as child labor, the depression, and my favorite, the history of the transcontinental railways, built with government subsidies (mostly land) because the government wanted quick access to the west coast. The first case of government intrusion on the economy in large scale, the result was railroads owning land which they leased to farmers they helped bring from Europe, then proceeded to charge freight rates designed to keep them alive, but no more. The government then declared business men were evil, and passed the Sherman act. Ayn points out that no railroad had been willing to build such a line on their own, as the costs could not be recouped due to the lack of traffic. Meanwhile, there was intense competition in the east, where traffic could sustain multiple railroads. And the rates were low, because of the competition. She proceeds to show how all the common stories of business corruption were caused by government intrusion. She tells the story of Vanderbilt's famous "the public be damned" Great book.
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New photos posted on the production Facebook page, including the first view of the new Taggert locomotive (not much to look at in this close-up shot; hopefully it'll be MUCH improved upon by the CGI folks in post):
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Also a glimpse of the Taggert rail network in a background computer image:
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More here:
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I haven't read Rand's novels, but have read much of her non-fiction. The Virtue of Selfishness is on target as is 97% of her philosophy. Atlas Shrugged is in my crosshairs as my next read. I don't often do fiction, but have come to the conclusion that Atals Shrugged isn't just fiction.

It saddens me that Rand's philsophy of Objectivism is not discussed much. It is a philosophy based on logic, reason, common sense, and property rights. Most conservatives don't like it because of her stand on religion. Most liberals don't like it because of the logic and reason and belief that each individual is responsible for himself.

I am guessing that the h0llyw00d s0cialists will squash it.

Gary, this movie is made with the active support of the Rand estate/foundation/what-have-you, so I imagine her general messages will come through. Whether they will come through WELL remains to be seen. The production was rather rushed. I am hoping for the best, as I really enjoyed the novel.

Paulman, I figure that the movie will be on target. But I figure the h0llyw00d left will keep it out of the mainstream.

This is just so awesome that this is being made - and made ACCURATELY. It'll get out there - I wouldn't miss seeing this for the world. There seem to be very few concessions made - since there really is no defined time in the novel, they just made it contemporary it appears, and on one of those albums I have to agree with a comment, the actress playing Dagny is just too conventionally pretty. The actors picked for Hank and James - excellent.
I first read Atlas Shrugged many years ago. While I was immediately drawn to it, to the point of writing down key quotes and printing them out and hanging them on my wall at work - things like "The hallmark of a second-rate man is resentment of another man's achievement" - I guess that being young, fairly fresh out of college, it didn't have as much as an impact as - well, I recently started re-reading it and is it ever hitting home with the way things are going in this country today. I think perhaps in my heart I believed it back then but didn't want to. 20-some years later, I can't help it.
I've read, and also seen the Gary Cooper movie, of The Fountainhead. Also well done - and while they did leave quite a bit out in the movie, they did leave in, at Ayn's insistence, the Roarke's long speech which pretty much sums up every bit of the philosophy of the story. This all got past Hollywood, I have no doubt Atlas Shrugged will too.
I've also read many of her essays and non-fiction.

--Randy

Trailer debuting online Feb 11.

In the movie, rail transportation is back at the fore due to the collapse of the airline industry and insanely expensive gas prices.

The Miracle of Reardon Metal Bridging


Wyatt Junction

the track in the lower photo looks suspiciously like Atlas flextrack. Are they sponsoring the movie?

nachoman Wrote:the track in the lower photo looks suspiciously like Atlas flextrack. Are they sponsoring the movie?

<shrug>

Nice job on the "wireless" electric locomotive.. *facepalm* they're kind of ignoring the fact that:

A: in the book they used a "gleaming" set of F-unit style diesels (ALCo FA's or EMD F's) which were diesel. One of the most eloquent parts of description in the book is her ride in the cab.

B. That electric locomotives need overhead wires ( Catenary) or a third rail to draw power. Unless they're going for a train powered by "movie magic" I hope they remedy this. (unless it's powered by the new kid on the block, Linear induction)

Mileswestern Wrote:Nice job on the "wireless" electric locomotive.. *facepalm* they're kind of ignoring the fact that:

A: in the book they used a "gleaming" set of F-unit style diesels (ALCo FA's or EMD F's) which were diesel. One of the most eloquent parts of description in the book is her ride in the cab.

B. That electric locomotives need overhead wires ( Catenary) or a third rail to draw power. Unless they're going for a train powered by "movie magic" I hope they remedy this. (unless it's powered by the new kid on the block, Linear induction)

Or.... maybe they'll use that new-fangled movie-making tool called CGI to put in all the necessaries in post-production? You have seen Lord of the Rings, right? Transformers? Actually any Hollywood blockbuster from the last 10 years requiring incredible special effects?

Nowadays you don't need models to make a believable scene. You just need a bunch of artists and computer geeks. :ugeek: