A Face in the Crowd

Bart had been talking about this movie for months. I had tried to record it a couple of times and both times the DVR failed me. Finally, the stars aligned and it recorded perfectly. We took a break from the Billy Wilder series to watch it.

And holy moly, it is a truly stupendous film. I had no idea. Who would have thought that Andy Griffith could play such a badass? I can't believe how dark and cynical the movie is. Or just how magnetic a performer Andy Griffith was in the role of Lonesome Rhodes.

Rhodes is a drifter with a guitar discovered in prison by a radio talent scout. He becomes an overnight sensation. But then he starts using his fame to manipulate those around him as well as the masses. His rise to fame is brutal and his fall is satisfying to watch. I kept thinking that his bravado, cynicism, and complete lack of sincerity in the bullshit he peddled reminded me of Glenn Beck. It wasn't until later that day while I was watching Countdown that I realized that Olbermann has been calling Beck, "Lonesome Rhodes Beck" for ages now.

This is a more realistic, much less surreal film than The World's Greatest Sinner but they would make a pretty great double feature. Or throw in Ace in the Hole as well and you'd have yourself quite a day.

Not only was this Andy Griffith's film debut, it was also Lee Remick's as well. Plus it was one of Walter Matthau's first roles. See this movie if you haven't.

The lines that sum up Rhodes:
Lonesome Rhodes: This whole country's just like my flock of sheep!

Marcia Jeffries: Sheep?

Lonesome Rhodes: Rednecks, crackers, hillbillies, hausfraus, shut-ins, pea-pickers - everybody that's got to jump when somebody else blows the whistle. They don't know it yet, but they're all gonna be 'Fighters for Fuller'. They're mine! I own 'em! They think like I do. Only they're even more stupid than I am, so I gotta think for 'em. Marcia, you just wait and see. I'm gonna be the power behind the president - and you'll be the power behind me!

Check out the trailer.


Directed by Elia Kazan
1957
TCM