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Genius on Hold

Play trailer Poster for Genius on Hold PG 2013 1h 32m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The story of Walter L. Shaw tells how Bell Co.'s refusal to pay for his revolutionary inventions led to his associations with organized crime.

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Genius on Hold

Critics Reviews

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Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times 02/28/2013
4/5
Marquette, aided by Frank Langella's precise narration, has crafted an engrossing and disturbing tribute. Go to Full Review Nicolas Rapold New York Times 02/28/2013
2/5
This promisingly tragic tale is sunk by cartloads of context and an overbearing, slanted narration. Go to Full Review Ernest Hardy Village Voice 02/26/2013
A far-reaching narrative of government venality and big-business greed that's all mapped succinctly but substantively. Go to Full Review Brent Simon Shockya.com 03/25/2013
B-
A movie that underscores that the winners and losers of some battles of capitalism aren't always confined to a single generation; its shadows are long ones. Go to Full Review Doris Toumarkine Film Journal International 03/01/2013
A provocative side trip into Americana, as fascinating as it is tendentious. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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08/27/2016 Not every story has a hero. See more 02/14/2015 Interesting story, but then it gets polemical on its soapbox. See more 10/13/2014 A gifted man who raged against the machine. The original hacker. Rest in peace. See more 07/28/2014 If there is a heaven, I hope Walter is inventing something to help his boss have a better connection with all of us down here. See more 03/03/2013 Terrible. Heavy-handed. It tried to land a ridiculous broadside against capitalism using a monopolistic Ma Bell and a dysfunctional family as its contenders. There was no corroboration; only talking heads. The Kennedys, AT&T, technology, the Mob, blacklisting, deregulation, thievery, penology...I think the filmmakers set a record in the number of incoherent stories told in 90 minutes. How on earth this 12th grade history class project got 80% is beyond me.Frank Langella should file suit against the filmmakers for negatively affecting his future income as a voiceover. See more Read all reviews
Genius on Hold

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Gregory Marquette

Director

Frank Langella

Narrator

Gregory Marquette

Screenwriter

Walter T. Shaw

Producer

Mitchell Schultz

Executive Producer

Jon Schultz

Executive Producer

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Genius on Hold

Genius on Hold (2013) Genius on Hold (2013) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The story of Walter L. Shaw tells how Bell Co.'s refusal to pay for his revolutionary inventions led to his associations with organized crime.
Director
Gregory Marquette
Producer
Walter T. Shaw
Screenwriter
Gregory Marquette
Distributor
Freestyle Releasing
Production Co
Top Cat Productions
Rating
PG (Brief Language|Thematic Elements|Some Smoking Images)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 1, 2013, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Dec 13, 2013
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 3, 2014
Runtime
1h 32m