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A Face in the Crowd (1957)

Not Rated  |   |  Drama  |  June 1957 (USA)
8.2
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Ratings: 8.2/10 from 9,214 users  
Reviews: 134 user | 45 critic

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?

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
...
...
Percy Waram ...
Gen. Haynesworth
Paul McGrath ...
Macey
Rod Brasfield ...
Beanie
Marshall Neilan ...
Sen. Worthington Fuller
Alexander Kirkland ...
Jim Collier
Charles Irving ...
Mr. Luffler
Howard Smith ...
J.B. Jeffries
Kay Medford ...
Big Jeff Bess ...
Sheriff Big Jeff Bess
Henry Sharp ...
Abe Steiner
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Storyline

"A Face in the Crowd" charts the rise of a raucous hayseed named Lonesome Rhodes from itinerant Ozark guitar picker to local media rabble-rouser to TV superstar and political king-maker. Marcia Jeffries is the innocent Sarah Lawrence girl who discovers the great man in a back-country jail and is the first to fall under his spell. Written by alfiehitchie

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

POWER! He loved it! He took it raw in big gulpfuls...he liked the taste, the way it mixed with the bourbon and the sin in his blood!

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

Not Rated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

June 1957 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Budd Schulberg's A Face in the Crowd  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Andy Griffith. See more »

Goofs

Just before Larry goes on air during his first TV appearance, the straw in his mouth disappears between shots. See more »

Quotes

Actor on Rhodes' show: [Speaking about Senator Fuller] You really sell that stiff as a man among men?
Lonesome Rhodes: Those morons out there? Shucks, I could take chicken fertilizer and sell it to them as caviar. I could make them eat dog food and think it was steak. Sure, I got 'em like this... You know what the public's like? A cage of Guinea Pigs. Good Night you stupid idiots. Good Night, you miserable slobs. They're a lot of trained seals. I toss them a dead fish and they'll flap their flippers.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Facing the Past (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

Free Man in the Morning
(1957) (uncredited)
Music by Tom Glazer
Lyrics by Budd Schulberg
Sung by Andy Griffith
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Underrated Masterpiece!
25 September 2003 | by (Maryland, USA) – See all my reviews

If you think that the extend of Andy Griffith's acting ability is playing a good old boy sheriff or aging lawyer. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. In it he shows the many shades of the character Lonesome Rhodes, pulling you in with his charm amd homespun philosophy until you realize that there is a snake hiding in that Downhome sheeps clothing.

I have watch this film many times and am always fascinated by the subtle hints early in the film to what he eventually reveals to the world.

a five star movie that was way ahead of it's time.


83 of 106 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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