"A Face in the Crowd", made in 1957, still speaks volumes, even compared with modern films today. It stars Andy Griffith as the explosive, charismatic “Lonesome” Rhodes. Marcia Jefferies plucks this traveling vagabond from the jailhouse floors and transform him into national sensation. His country boy attitude charms a nation and rockets his popularity from radio to television. As an entertainer, he was able to wield passions, aroused emotions, and prejudices from his viewers. The big authoritative powers behind his show saw this as an opportunity to exploit his fame to gain political power. As “Lonesome” bust his way to the top of the ratings, Marcia Jefferies was the women behind this man. Along the way, she became ensnared by his intoxicating character even when she began to see his true colors.
Rhodes, becomes a vicious power hungry beast, who doesn’t really care for the viewers. While he hocks saint-like morales on television, he carouses around with women while bad-mouthing the very public that worships him. He knows he is “an influence, the wheeler of opinion, a force”. He can pull the strings of every “redneck, crackers, hillbillies, hausfraus, shut-ins, pea-pickers” in the country to do his bidding. They would probably help him achieve his desire to have a political seat in the government. Only Marcia Jefferies can tear down this monstrous demagogue she created and break away from his grips but does she have the strength to do it?
I was impressed with this movie and thoroughly enjoyed the film. Andy Griffith played his character powerfully and so did the supporting cast. And through the façade of entertainment there was underlying message; The Entertainment media is a very strong source of power that can control the public. Media such as Television can influence the opinions. You can see that justification through California electing Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor. A dose of cold reality is doled out in this movie and I liked it.
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