A Face in the Crowd

Starring: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, Walter Matthau, Lee Remick
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama
1957

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A radio producer (Patricia Neal) discovers a talented hobo (Andy Griffith) and creates a show around him. He quickly becomes famous, and as his fame grows, so does his power. He rises to unfathomable heights, but stands precariously at the top.

Review:
Tim: I really, really enjoyed Elia Kazan's A Face in the Crowd. I'm shocked I haven't heard more about this movie. It was incredible. Movies like this remind me that even if you think you've seen the great movies out there, there are likely hundreds of great movies that have escaped your detection. There's such fantastic stories and performances out there, and the only way to find them is to keep looking. This powerful film escaped by radar for years, but tracking it down was well worth it. This is a great, great movie.

Like everyone, I'm mostly familiar with Andy Griffith from his television show. I had no idea he broke into feature films in this role, nor did I have any idea of the sheer talent he possessed. His performnace here is mesmerizing. He's an in-your-face, controversial, walk-his-own-path southern boy. He explodes on screen, showing a wide range of emotions. His performance is truly remarkable, and I'm shocked that he didn't get any real acclaim or awards for this performance. It's one of the best I have seen in a very, very long time. He makes Lonesome Rhodes this fascinating, complex, complicated character. I absolutely loved getting to know this character, and that's because of the performance of Griffith. If for no other reason, his portrayal of this amazing character is worth checking this film out.

Luckily, there are other good reasons, too. I just loved the story. We find an interesting man living in the dregs of society. He's a drinker, a womanizer, a nobody. And yet, he's inexplicably plucked from obscurity and put into the spotlight. This journey was fascinating- how fame and fortune changed many aspects of his personality, while leaving others untouched. I am always intrigued how fame and power changes a man, and this movie gives us an in-depth look at that. I was equally as fascinated with the sheer amount of power and influence Lonesome Rhodes eventually obtains. People can claim this is unrealistic, but I thought it was a very intelligent, ahead-of-its-time look at who really influences the masses, and what they do with that power. People in this world look to others for guidance, and they put people on pedestals. We get to see that, but we also see the man behind the myth. It's truly a fascinating journey to take.

The film also features some strong performances. Patricia Neal is occasionally a bit too melodramatic, but overall, she gives a very strong performance next to Griffith. I really enjoyed the way she played her character. It's also fun to see a small supporting role from Walter Matthau. He doesn't have a great deal to do, but he gets a few very strong moments through the film. The whole cast works quite well together, and there's more than a few strong performances in this film.

What really makes this movie work is how director Elia Kazan pulled all these individual strengths together to make a effective, entertaining movie. Kazan is such an accomplished director, and you can tell how he was in control of this whole film. It's an expertly crafted movie that not only informs and stimulates thinking, but is quite entertaining as well. I thoroughly enjoyed A Face in the Crowd, and I'm going to do my part to spread the word about this incredible film. It truly is something amazing to behold.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



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