Atlas Shrugged III: Who Is John Galt?

The passing of the owner of the 20th-century Motor Company marks the beginning of a turbulent era for his children, who take the reins with a controversial new policy: salaries will now be determined by individual needs rather than merit. This decision sparks outrage from lab engineer John Galt (Kristoffer Polaha), who defiantly proclaims, “I’ll stop the motor of the world.”

Fast forward twelve years, and the United States is in the grip of a devastating economic downturn. With airlines grounded and trains regaining dominance due to overwhelming shortages, business leaders are mysteriously disappearing, with Galt suspected to be behind these vanishments. Among the latest to vanish is Dagny Taggart (Laura Regan), the ambitious executive of Taggart Transcontinental. In a desperate chase, she attempts to track down Galt but meets with disaster and crashes her private plane.

However, Dagny’s luck changes when she stumbles upon Galt’s Gulch, where she is saved from her wreckage by Galt himself. Here, Dagny encounters a group of talented individuals who have chosen to disappear, including banker Midas Mulligan (played by Mark Moses), who denounces the government as a source of enslavement. Other key figures like Ragnar Danneskjöld (Eric Allan Kramer) and Francisco d’Anconia (Joaquim De Almeida) share their philosophies and grievances against a government that seizes property and wealth.

In this secluded refuge, Dagny finds herself working as Galt’s maid as she seeks independence and purpose. He reveals to her a groundbreaking model of his motor that has the potential to revolutionize power across the entire West Coast. Meanwhile, Professor Akston advises Dagny against associating with those who misuse their power, highlighting that the corrupt are exploiting the hard work of the diligent. As Dagny contemplates her future, the group offers her a week to decide her path.

Henry “Hank” Rearden (Rob Morrow) is deeply invested in finding Dagny, while Galt wrestles with the desire to return to a society that no longer values individual achievement. Francisco, however, cautions him against exposing themselves, as the government grows suspicious about the fugitives’ whereabouts. In the meantime, Dagny is confronted with the collapse of the railroad system and ultimately feels compelled to return to her post to salvage what remains of her company.

Outside the sanctuary of Galt’s Gulch, the government enacts a punitive measure known as “Project F,” leading to the nationalization of railroads, including Taggart Transcontinental. This initiative, strongly backed by officials like Dr. Floyd Ferris (Larry Cedar) and Wesley Mouch (Louis Herthum), seeks to consolidate power at the expense of productivity and freedom. In the chaos that ensues, Dagny faces fierce opposition from her brother James Taggart (Greg Germann), who proceeds to stifle her efforts to preserve the interests of Minnesota’s farmers.

As the infrastructure crumbles and train movement halts, Dagny innovates a manual switching system to avert disaster, even encountering John working alongside her on the tracks. Their romance ignites in the shadows of the tunnels, adding complexity to an already volatile situation. Meanwhile, Hank disappears, leading to further turmoil as his wife Cherryl Taggart (Jen Nikolaisen) comes to a startling realization about her husband’s deceit and ultimately takes her own life.

In a twist of fate, Galt seizes the opportunity to address the nation, exposing the fundamental flaws of central planning and the moral implications of collective control. As public sentiment shifts toward Galt as a beacon of hope, the government attempts to coerce him into service. However, Dagny’s close ties to Galt are discovered, resulting in his arrest and subsequent torture under “Project F.” Despite the dire circumstances, allies from Galt’s Gulch rally to rescue him as the fabric of society begins to unravel around them, hinting at a larger battle for freedom and individualism.

Last Updated: October 25, 2024 at 12:32