Movie Monday: A Face in the Crowd (1957)
Long before he was the beloved sheriff of a little town called Mayberry, Andy Griffith played a southern jailbird named Lonesome Rhodes. A Face in the Crowd is a little known film, but one that will make you realize just how talented Andy Griffith was as an actor. Honestly, I had a hard time watching The Andy Griffith Show after seeing this film!
These photos are not mine.
This gripping story is centered around Griffith’s character who is a backwoods philosopher who gets his big break on the radio! A Face in the Crowd is a significant movie because it was one of the earliest and first films to discuss the power and danger of media in our society. The lesson taught in this movie still holds value to this day.
One of the points in the film that director Eliza Kazan and screenwriter Budd Schulberg wanted to make was about what is seemingly the “American Dream”. The story of Lonesome Rhodes is one that would appear to be a success story, but when looking into his situation deeper, you quickly realize he is a lonely man who has more power than he could ever imagined.
These photos are not mine.
The symbolism in A Face in the Crowd is rich and follows right along with the story that is being played out on the screen. The ups and downs of Rhodes’ life is illustrated when he takes an elevator down. Even near the end of the film when he is at his apartment on the top floor, the image of him being alone tells the story of a man who ruthlessly made it to the top but has no one there left to celebrate with him.
These photos are not mine.
In its original release, audiences did not hold A Face in the Crowd to be a classic. However, as the years have passed mass opinion about this movie has shifted. Today we are realizing more and more the value of the story in this film and care about the aesthetics that surround this story. Ultimately, A Face in the Crowd is growing more notorious to modern audience because of the truths that this film holds.
Much Love,
Sarah
2 Comments
Marge
Think I will have to watch this film after reading this.
admin
You definitely should! It is a great movie and it will really make you realize how talented Andy Griffith was!