Review of A Face in the Crowd (1957) by Rod V — 30 Nov 2009

If you want to see the dark side of Andy Griffith, this is it. Griffith plays a scruffy vagabond Lonesome Rhodes, who gets the opportunity to perform on the radio, then parlays that into his own radio show, and then his own TV show, and quickly becomes a media sensation and populist folk hero. Realizing the power he wields over his adoring public, he begins using his influence to sway popular opinion and control the outcome of elections, eventually become mad with power. Kind of like Oprah. Griffith gives the performance of his career. He walks a fine line between being immensely likeable and completely repulsive and pulls it off with aplomb.

Besides Andy Griffith's performance, another reason to watch this movie is as a cultural touchstone. The Simpsons has done direct homages on several occasions, such as the Gabbo episode and the one where Mr. Burns runs for governor. Watching A Face in the Crowd, you will feel pangs of familiarity, not because the movie is cliched, but because it has been referenced so many times in popular culture that its themes have become cliches.