“Atlas Shrugged” DVD Recalled; Suggests Novel is About Self-Sacrifice

The movie Steven Greenhut predicted would be a hit when released on DVD is already as massive a fail at retail as it was at the Box Office.  “Atlas Shrugged, Part I,” Libertarian author Ayn Rand’s “biblical” tome to right wingers everywhere, did less than $5 million at the Box Office when released last Spring.  The DVD was released 10 days ago to little fanfare and has since been recalled due to a massive mistake on the label —

The “Atlas Shrugged” DVD’s promotional copy on the title sheet of 100,000 DVDs carries a different message than the novel. 

From the producer’s web site: “The 1957 novel, Atlas Shrugged, is known in philosophical and political circles for presenting a cogent argument advocating a society driven by rational self-interest. On the back of the film’s retail DVD and Blu-ray however, the movie’s synopsis contradictorily states “AYN RAND’s timeless novel of courage and self-sacrifice comes to life…

Randians don’t sacrifice.

From Atlas Shrugged Productions CEO Harmon Kaslow, this quote:  “As we all well know, the ideas brought to life in Atlas Shrugged are entirely antithetical to the idea of ‘self-sacrifice’ as a virtue. Atlas is quite literally a story about the dangers of self-sacrifice. The error was an unfortunate one and fans of Ayn Rand and Atlas have every right to be upset.”

The production company is making claims that the error, now corrected to say AYN RAND’s timeless novel of courage and self-interest comes to life…”   makes the DVD a collectors item.  Yeah, and so is any copy of the Stars Wars Holiday Special where Carrie Fisher/Princess Leia sings….and that will cost you about $10 at any Sci-Fi/Comic Book convention.

The good news is, now we know what to get Allan Bartlett for Christmas.

9 Comments

  1. Ayn Rand hated self-sacrifice.

    “Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.”
    Ayn Rand

    • I know that Dan – that was the point of my comment – the box was wrong. The followers of Ayn Rand would not have stated anything like that.

  2. I would venture to guess that this “mistake” was actually intentional. The marketers and supporters of this movie know full well that Randian philosophy is completely antithetical to how most Americans (not to mention most rational, moral people) view themselves and their fellow Americans.

    • “.. Randian philosophy is completely antithetical to how most Americans (not to mention most rational, moral people) view themselves and their fellow Americans.”

      I think that Rand’s philosophy is more in line with the thinking of the American people than you realize Steve.

  3. Junior–
    I will let somone else far greater than me respond to that kind of thinking…

    ‘For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’

    • I like and agree with that guy (JC) as well.

      I did not say that I agree with Ayn’s statement nor do I disagree with it – I think it is not a complete statement.

      I believe that forced charity through government coercion is counterproductive. The government uses it’s perverted sense of moral judgement to frame it’s vision of “charity.” Ayn Rand was actually ambivalent towards charity – Rand on charity.

      “I do not consider it (charity) a major virtue and, above all, I do not consider it a moral duty. There is nothing wrong in helping other people, if and when they are worthy of the help and you can afford to help them. I regard charity as a marginal issue. What I am fighting is the idea that charity is a moral duty and a primary virtue.”

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