Un nemico del popolo

The thing I noticed right away was how the plot reminded me of the original Jaws. Dealing with a life threatening problem or wanting to believe it will go away. Great movie. Steve McQueen was different from his usual but a pleasure to watch. Charles Durning was also just about at the top of his game. Robin Pearson Rose was a very interesting actress but may have had her career impeded by this first appearance, though no blame should go to her acting in this movie. The ship captain, Richard Bradford, was a treat in such a role and a reminder of how a good voice carries a performance. A great many of the secondary parts were of similar high quality actors and so familiar over the years. The odd thing was seeing it on Netflix's instant watch but the thumbnail seems to be for a Braodway performance and this rare version is what plays.

It's too bad this little film got pulled from release before anybody got a chance to see it. It's quite good, actually. Steve McQueen -- known more for his rugged, action-packed roles -- is superb as a village doctor during the late 1800s who must speak up against an injustice taking place...even at the cost of his career and reputation. If you notice "An Enemy of the People" being shown on TV, do yourself a favor and see it. You won't be disappointed.

As every McQueen fan knows,this is the one that we all want to see...The one film that brought McQueen out of the quiet years,the one film he fought hard to bring to the big screen only for the studio to pull it after a limited release because the character didn't seem to suit McQueens fans...Well after finally seeing the film you realize just how wrong and short sighted there where... McQueen is playing Dr Thomas Stockman,trying the speak out against the greedy town's people who don't want to hear the truth about their water in the prosperous spring spa as it will drive away all the tourists with their cash...McQueen is standing up to impossible odds..not refusing to stand down or bend his principles...This is the type of character McQueen played in nearly all his other roles.

Before i saw the film i did think that perhaps McQueen wouldn't be suited to the "serious acting role" that Dr Thomas Stockman required...boy was i wrong..McQueen gives an outstanding performance...one of the best of his career & this film should be brought back out on a special edition DVD(along with Tom Horn) so all the fans can see the tour de force the film really is....

A mention must also go to the supporting cast,particularly Charles Durning who's greed & corruption really sparks against McQueens honest Doctor...also nice to see the man in a suitcase Richard Bradford in a good strong role as the Captian.

In closing this is a great movie & if you have to bid a lot on e-bay for it then do so......

thanx to one of the guys writing here I received this tape a few years ago. And believe it or not, in my hometown - Zurich, Switzerland - they actually show this movie at the movie theater, starting next week. I can't believe this!!! Steve McQueen's acting is amazing and memorable. Actually in all of his movies - I got it all - but especially here too. It's a shame they never published this. Whenever you got the chance on watching this jewel then just do it. You might be bored at the begin, especially if you're expecting a typical McQueen- Movie. Give it a chance and don't turn off the TV after ten minutes or so. You won't regret. However, the end was a little fast (don't know exactly how to tell this in English). I am so excited to watch this at the movies next week and just can't believe it still. It's also showing on TV in the States sometimes but those people probable know this already.

From an Arthur Miller adaptation of a Henrik Ibsen play, "An Enemy of the People" is a film about a man who stands up for truth in the face of adversity. This film is shot much as a play, with a concentration on ideas and not embellishments. It was executive produced by Steve McQueen, the popular actor whose popularity was created by roles in action films, like "The Great Escape" and "Bullitt". When shown to test audiences, the reception for this film was poor, so it never saw theatrical release.

Doctor Thomas Stockmann (Steve McQueen) is a practitioner in a small town that has great hopes for tourism and financial gain due to a spring they have developed into a destination for those seeking its healthy waters. But the doctor has suspicions that the runoff from an upstream tannery is polluting the waters, creating a health risk. He takes his concerns to his brother, Peter (Charles Durning), who also happens to be the mayor and the CEO of the corporation that developed the springs.

The story is a warning about democracy/majority rule and the dynamics of mob rule. Like the town of Amity in "Jaws", the people do not want to hear news that might have a negative impact on their finances. Like the people of Salem in "The Crucible", they can be manipulated easily by those who tell them what they want to hear. And like Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird", Dr. Stockmann is armed with the truth but finds opposition from those who are invested in any "truth" that supports their biases.

In today's terms, Stockmann is a whistleblower. He is also a man of science who realizes that others before him were persecuted for their truths. The story also contains lessons about the responsibility of newpapers and, very importantly, the right of free speech.

This is a well-crafted story, but I feel the ending is abrupt. The acting is good, but I find no Oscar-worthy performances. The sound was the only aspect of the film that I thought subpar, having an unevenness and an echo that distracted.

"An Enemy of the People" is worth seeing for its themes. Being an effort by Steve McQueen to stretch his acting muscles, it is also an interesting anomaly.