A look at Karl Hess, libertarian intellectual and activist, from his background as a magazine editor in his youth to his work as a Republican speechwriter, as he became simultaneously a writer for Barry Goldwater and a member of Students for a Democratic Society. In the late 1960s he embarked on a new period in his life, moving to rural West Virginia and becoming involved in movements promoting alternative technologies and renewable energy. He discusses his views opposing large institutions, ranging from government to corporations to universities.
Karl Hess: Toward Liberty (1980) is a documentary film directed by Roland Hallé, released on October 1, 1980 with a runtime of 26m. Viewers rate it 6.4 out of 10 across 11 ratings.
Average viewer score of 6.4/10 from 11 ratings.
Made in 1980 about a man whose political career started in the 1960s, this shows that now, forty five years later, some of Karl Hess’s prognostications about society, “Uncle Sam” and “Big Brother” proved not to be so very wide of the mark for us now in the mid-2020s. Initially a speechwriter for Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, he found polarising politics counterproductive and moved to a rural community where…
Reviewed on March 13, 2026
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Karl Hess: Toward Liberty was released on October 1, 1980 and runs for 26m.
Karl Hess: Toward Liberty (1980) holds an average rating of 6.4 out of 10 from 11 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy documentary films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.