A Face In The Crowd

A Face In The Crowd (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
122 min

Aspect Ratio:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White

Movie filmed in 1957 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Elia Kazan

Written By:
Budd Schulberg (also story The Arkansas Traveler)

Actors:
Andy Griffith ..... Lonesome Rhodes
Patricia Neal ..... Marcia Jeffries
Anthony Franciosa ..... Joey
Walter Matthau ..... Mel Miller
Lee Remick ..... Betty Lou Fleckum
Percy Waram ..... Gen. Haynesworth
Paul McGrath ..... Macey
Rod Brasfield ..... Beanie
Marshall Neilan ..... Senator Worthington Fuller
Alexander Kirkland ..... Jim Collier
Charles Irving ..... Mr. Luffler
Howard Smith ..... J.B. Jeffries
Kay Medford ..... First Mrs. Rhodes
Big Jeff Bess ..... Sheriff Big Jeff Bess
Henry Sharp ..... Abe Steiner

Synopsis:

Marcia Jeffries is the creator and on air host of a local northeast Arkansas radio program called 'A Face in the Crowd', where she finds the common man to perform on air. For the show, she finds a country drifter name Larry 'Lonesome' Rhodes, whose improvised songs and straight from the heart talk - often anti-establishment - captures the imagination of the radio listening public. But as Lonesome's fame increases - which includes becoming a regional television personality to a national commentator of social good to a political adviser to an aspiring politician - his true nature comes to light, that of a vain, self-important man who has contempt for the public, who he believes he can manipulate into thinking anything, and anyone who stands in his way. Conversely, many are wanting to get whatever pound of flesh they can from Lonesome. Marcia is there with him as he navigates through his rise to fame, but she may have some say in what ultimately happens in his life, especially as it starts to affect her.

The meteoric popularity of Arthur Godfrey was allegedly the basis of the 1957 drama Face in the Crowd. Andy Griffith makes a spectacular film debut as Lonesome Rhodes, a philosophical country-western singer discovered in a tanktown jail by television talent coordinator Patricia Neal and her assistant Walter Matthau. They decide that Rhodes is worthy of a TV guest spot, the result being that the gangly, aw-shucks entertainer becomes an overnight sensation. As he ascends to stardom, Rhodes attracts fans, sponsors and endorsements by the carload, and soon he is the most powerful and influential entertainer on the airwaves. Beloved by his audience, Rhodes reveals himself to his intimates as a scheming, power-hungry manipulator, with Machiavellian political aspirations. He uses everyone around him, coldly discarding anyone who might impede his climb to the top (one such victim is sexy baton-twirler Lee Remick, likewise making her film debut). Just when it seems that there's no stopping Rhodes' megalomania, his mentor and ex-lover Neal exposes this Idol of Millions as the rat that he is. She arranges to switch on the audio during the closing credits of Rhodes' TV program, allowing the whole nation to hear the grinning, waving Rhodes characterize them as 'suckers' and 'stupid idiots.' Instantly, Rhodes' popularity rating plummets to zero. As he drunkenly wanders around his penthouse apartment, still not fully comprehending what has happened to him, Rhodes is deserted by the very associates who, hours earlier, were willing to ask 'how high?' when he yelled 'jump'. Written by Budd Schulberg, Face in the Crowd was not a success, possibly because it hit so close to home with idol-worshipping TV fans. Its reputation has grown in the intervening years, not only because of its value as a film but because of the novelty of seeing the traditionally easygoing Andy Griffith as so vicious and manipulative a character as Lonesome Rhodes.

An Arkansas hobo becomes an overnight media sensation. But as he becomes drunk with fame and power, will he ever be exposed as the fraud he has become?

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 15 November, 2005.

Customers who bought this product also purchased

Young Gods (DVD)	Attila Janisch Collection 3-DVD Set (DVD)	19 ( Nineteen ) (DVD)
Why (Not) Brazil? (DVD)	Poppitz (DVD)	The Escort (DVD)