Face in the Crowd DVD

A Face in the Crowd
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. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Andy Griffith as Lonesome Rhodes Patricia Neal as Marcia Jeffries Anthony Franciosa as Joey Kiely Walter Matthau as Mel Miller Lee Remick as Betty Lou Fleckum Kay Medford as First Mrs. Rhodes Rod Brasfield as Beanie Charles Irving as Mr. Luffler Howard I. Smith as J.B. Jeffries Paul McGrath as Macey Alexander Kirkland as Jim Collier Big Jeff Bess as Sheriff Hosmer Henry Sharp as Abe Steiner

Crew Anna Hill Johnstone - Costume Designer Charles H. Maguire - First Assistant Director Elia Kazan - Director Gene Milford - Editor Tom Glazer - Composer (Music Score) Richard Sylbert - Production Designer Gayne Rescher - Cinematographer Harry Stradling - Cinematographer George Justin - Production Manager Elia Kazan - Producer Budd Schulberg - Screenwriter Budd Schulberg - Short Story Author

A Face in the Crowd
While it's about as subtle as a stick of dynamite in a keg of nails, A Face in the Crowd was one of the first intelligent attempts to examine the impact of mass media on average citizens. If Budd Schulberg's script plays its hand too heavily by today's standards (it's pretty hard to shock anyone now by telling them television can be used to manipulate the mass audience), it still works, thanks largely to fine work by a superb cast. In his film debut, Andy Griffith gave the greatest performance of his career as "Lonesome" Rhodes, a small-time con artist who discovers that his "aw shucks" homespun act can make him wealthy and powerful as a radio and television star. The near-cancerous growth of Rhodes' ego and unholy lust for power is a fascinating thing to witness, and anyone who knows Griffith only as Andy Taylor from Mayberry will be shocked by the gale-force megalomania of this role; he never again approached the mesmerizing ugliness of this character. Patricia Neal is equally impressive as the bright and ambitious Marcia, swinging from confidence to wounded vulnerability with heart-wrenching effectiveness. And while Walter Matthau has the thankless task of delivering the film's moral in his final speech, you can't say that he didn't know how to make the most of it, as he sums up Lonesome's crimes with lip-smacking cynicism. Add the crisp and adventurous black-and-white camerawork of Harry Stradling and Gayne Rescher, and Elia Kazan's brisk and methodically paced direction, and you get a "message movie" that still feels fresh, even if the message has dated. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
 

Elia Kazan: Directors Guild of America, Best Director (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc New documentary Facing the Past Theatrical trailer Subtitles: English, Français & Español MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 126 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Credits [1:26] 2. A Face in the Crowd [2:33] 3. Lonesome Rhodes [5:45] 4. One-Day Trial Offer [3:17] 5. Housewives' Heartthrob [3:37] 6. To the Dogs [4:48] 7. Getting the Idea [4:45] 8. TV Debut [4:44] 9. Potent Pitchman [4:08] 10. His Own Man [2:41] 11. In Marcia's Door [2:07] 12. In Vitajex's Door [4:06] 13. Moving Merchandise [7:00] 14. Mass Persuasion [4:56] 15. Don't Hurt Me [4:14] 16. Mrs. Rhodes [3:45] 17. Deeply Involved [4:34] 18. Betty Lou Fleckum [6:21] 19. Another Bride [4:15] 20. Heart Problems [3:40] 21. Marcia's Cut [3:15] 22. Coaching Sen. Fuller [6:49] 23. I'm a Force [1:29] 24. The Book on Lonesome [5:30] 25. In Bed With Joey [2:33] 26. My Flock of Sheep [4:53] 27. The Whole Show [3:15] 28. Grabbing Control [2:30] 29. All the Way Down [1:53] 30. Get Out of Everybody's Life [3:31] 31. Face to Face [3:57] 32. Whatever Happened to Him? [3:17]