Ayn Rand and Film

Early in her career, Ayn Rand worked in Hollywood as a screen writer. Her first film scenarios were never produced, and some have been lost. However, she later wrote several successful screenplays, and several of her own works were (or will be) produced for the screen.

All known films in which Ayn Rand or her work played a role are listed below, with links to further information.

UNPRODUCED SCENARIOS

The Skyscraper (1927)

The Siege (1927)

These two scenarios appear in The Journals of Ayn Rand, which includes Ayn Rand’s working notes for these and her subsequent novels and stories.

Red Pawn (1932)
This dramatic love story – in some ways a precursor to We the Living – appears in The Early Ayn Rand.

SCREENPLAYS MADE INTO FILMS

Love Letters (1945)
A charming film starring Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones, filled with the values and touches for which Ayn Rand became famous. (Not to be confused with later films with the same title!)

You Came Along (1945)

The Fountainhead (1949)
Ayn Rand wrote the screenplay for the film version of her classic novel of individualism, set in the world of architecture.

Films Based on Ayn Rand Stories

We the Living (1942)
During World War II, an unauthorized version of Ayn Rand’s novel was filmed in fascist Italy. It turned out to be a brilliant job, however, and starred screen legends Alida Valli and Rossano Brazzi. The film was later discovered by Ayn Rand’s attorneys, and reissued to great critical acclaim.

The Fountainhead (1949)

Ayn Rand’s controversial novel became a major Hollywood film starring Gary Cooper as Howard Roark, Patricia Neal as Dominique Francon, and Raymond Massey as Gail Wynand. Rand herself wrote the screenplay, and the film was directed by King Vidor.

Atlas Shrugged (forthcoming)
A new project to film Atlas Shrugged has just been launched

The Husband I Bought (forthcoming)

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