I would have added scenes with Rearden. The wet nurse dying in his arms and Rearden storming out of the meeting with James Taggert, and Wesley Mooche. A little bitchy Lillian Rearden scene would have added some spice.

Instead of talking about project X in a building and getting Sadler's signature, I wish they had included the scene of destruction where they weaponized what was supposed to be a device of public security. Without it, the evil turn of the government is not made clear.
(quote)
...a world where Dr. Robert Stadler is summoned by Dr. Floyd Ferris to the first public demonstration of the State Science Institute's "Project X" a secret invention of which Stadler knows nothing. The media and national figures are present, including Mr. Thompson, head of state. Ferris announces that Project X is a sonic ray device "an invaluable instrument of public security" with a radius of a hundred miles. It is, he announces, a practical application of Stadler's own scientific theories: in fact, Stadler's ideas and reputation allowed the project to be planned and funded. The physicist and onlookers are horrified when, in the demonstration, the ray annihilates a distant farm. But when Ferris hands him a prepared speech to reassure the crowd, Stadler meekly obeys.
(end quote)

I would exchange the Colorado scenery [and leave Eddie to his fate as Ayn Rand did] in exchange for either: the fight at the factory and Francisco's revelation to Hank Rearden or Dagny's speech on her return from the Valley when the government had tried to shame her into supporting the Railroad Unification Act and she gloried in her affair with Rearden instead..

Let me start this of with my One Scene to Change: The Love Scene. (Surprised?)

Why? I was embarrassed by this scene, not because of the sexuality but because of its position in the plot line. We had a plot of 'Dagny gets the trains moving in spite of all obstacles'. This element, and the corresponding narrow-gauge rail discussion in the Gulch, show us why Dagny qualifies to be in the Gulch. But then we get the plot line: Dagny says a few words about red and green cellophane on lanterns and then says 'do what your bosses say' and goes of to screw JG. This is not a good display of a quality character.

Suggested change: Dagny gives her cellophane and lanterns speech, then you see the (existing) scene with the engineer with walkie-talkie being able to see the manual switch light through the fog, then you see the (new scene) next manual switch lantern - and it is Dagny with one of those horrible yellow slickers over her evening gown, manning a post. Then you see JG doing likewise on a different switchpoint. Then. After the system is going, the 'shift' changes and other folks take over the now-established system. NOW Dagny and JG seek each other out for a love scene.

What this does for the movie: Dagny is a thin character who, more than just metaphorically, is carried through scene after scene. This 'true grit' plot element shows that she has the integrity to carry out her convictions and lead from the front. This provides an 'evidence' of what AS means rather than just a declamation of it.

I think these changes could have occupied a couple of minutes of screen time (takes less time to show than to tell). I would probably have cut all of the scenes relating to Cherryl to make up for the time.

Jan

I missed the introduction of the “John Galt plan”, promising solutions to all of societies problems, written by the looters. And of course, John Galt's response.
I would have added that.

and leave out one, count 'em, ONE word:
HOMESCHOOLING.
I am adamant about that, and when I show up in the Gulch with a mentorship program, it'll knock your Atlas pins off!

The point I would change is the "one month" limit. In the book, the month is a vacation time taken by everyone who lives there and everyone stays the whole month. Many things are done - concerts, philosophy lectures and ? in which Dagny would have been able to participate and see the real life in the Gulch. It wouldn't add much time or expense to pan over a poster kiosk "Halley's newest work on vacation Day 4! Admission 25c" or having John hand her a booklet of what would be happening and pointing out that she would not be able to join the "Advanced Applications of the Galt motor" workshop.
John making it a proposition to her that she stay a month, which she clearly could say "no" to, weakened what she got from her stay, and weakened what we saw of life in the Gulch.