An Enemy of the People (1978): Cast & Plot
An Enemy of the People is a 1978 drama directed by George Schaefer, starring Steve McQueen as Dr. Thomas Stockmann, John Levin and Ham Larsen. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Director
- George Schaefer
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- First Artists
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is An Enemy of the People About?
The premise of An Enemy of the People without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
An honest doctor uncovers that the hot‑spring town’s celebrated waters are poisoned by runoff from a local tannery. Fearing costly cleanup and damaged reputation, the town leaders push to hide the truth. Stockmann battles the town to expose the contamination, sparking opposition and mixed public reaction as greed threatens his integrity.
An Enemy of the People Themes & Keywords
· 21 tags- based on play
- pollution
- altruism
- reference to jesus christ
- reference to galileo
- corrupt politician
- spa
- mayor
- mob rule
- town
- tannery
- doctor
+9 more Show fewer
- health spa
- small town
- norway
- playing against type
- foreign language adaptation
- contaminated water
- cover up
- independent film
- title spoken by character
An Enemy of the People Cast & Characters
Steve McQueen leads the cast as Dr. Thomas Stockmann, with John Levin as Ejlif Stockmann and Ham Larsen as Morten Stockmann. Directed by George Schaefer; 41 actors are credited in all.
- Director George Schaefer
-
Steve McQueen as Dr. Thomas Stockmann - John Levin as Ejlif Stockmann
- Ham Larsen as Morten Stockmann
-
Charles Durning as Peter Stockmann
Also Starring in An Enemy of the People
· 37 more- Bibi Andersson Catherine Stockmann
- Eric Christmas Morten Kiil
- Michael Cristofer Hovstad
- Robin Pearson Rose Petra Stockmann
- Richard Dysart Aslaksen
- Richard Bradford Captain Forster
- Michael Greene
- Luce Rains
- Michael Higgins Billing
- Kay E. Kuter
- Russ Marin
- Lillian Adams
- Joseph G. Medalis
- Seamon Glass
- Kenneth White
- Jim Begg
Show all 41 cast members Show fewer cast members
- John Voldstad
- Leon Charles
- Louise Hoven Randine
- Harry Frazier
- Delos V. Smith Jr.
- Michael Vandever
- Bart Williams
- Stan Stratton
- Zachary Lewis
- Glenn Ransom
- Jack Carol
- Marc de Vries
- Thor Nielsen
- Darel Glaser
- Gregory Bell
- Walter Stroud
- Robert Clement
- Gene Ruymen
- Kenneth W. Tanner
- Teddy Blue
- Miriam Hendry
More from George Schaefer
More films directed by George Schaefer: The Man Upstairs, Laura Lansing Slept Here, Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry and Stone Pillow.
An Enemy of the People Plot Summary
What happens in An Enemy of the People from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Thomas Stockmann, Steve McQueen, is a doctor and amateur scientist in a small, unnamed Norwegian town. He discovers that the nearby springs, which promise tourism and a boost to local life, are being polluted by waste from the town’s tannery and could cause serious health problems for residents. He writes an article for the local newspaper, the Messenger, exposing the contamination and warning of the danger to public health. This discovery challenges the town’s cheerful trust in the springs and in the institutions that profit from them, setting Thomas on a collision course with powerful interests.
Full summary
The whole story of An Enemy of the People, scene by scene
An Enemy of the People Trailers & Videos
The trailer of An Enemy of the People.
How Well Do You Know An Enemy of the People?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays Dr. Thomas Stockmann in the film?
Seen An Enemy of the People?
Movies Like An Enemy of the People
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including An Enemy of the People, In the Name of the People and One Man.
An Enemy of the People FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of An Enemy of the People, each answered in a sentence.
How long is An Enemy of the People?
An Enemy of the People runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was An Enemy of the People released?
An Enemy of the People was released on March 17, 1978.
Who directed An Enemy of the People?
An Enemy of the People was directed by George Schaefer.
More films by George Schaefer Who is in the cast of An Enemy of the People?
An Enemy of the People stars Steve McQueen as Dr. Thomas Stockmann, John Levin as Ejlif Stockmann and Ham Larsen as Morten Stockmann, among 41 credited actors.
Does An Enemy of the People have a post-credit scene?
No. An Enemy of the People has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
