Andy Griffith, 1926 – 2012
But beyond the beloved Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry and, later, Matlock, there is another reason to remember the importance of Griffith to American culture today: Elia Kazan’s under-appreciated and hauntingly prescient 1957 classic A Face in the Crowd…
In it, Griffith portrays small-time Memphis singer and former jailbird Larry Rhodes who ends up, through a lucky turn of events, becoming a national sensation as “Lonesome Rhodes” before turning his newly-found celebrity power towards political influence.
“What follows suggests the influence of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” writes Aisha Harris at Slate today, “and foreshadows the enormous role celebrity has played in American culture in the half-century since the movie’s release. Rhodes becomes an overnight star so powerful that he can no longer be contained by small-town television. His influence carries over to a national audience and, more dangerously, into politics, as a media coach to an aspiring presidential candidate”…
Rhodes’ “descent into monstrosity,” as described by Harris and captured on film decades ahead of it’s time, captures the essence of the con by far too many political-celebrity demagogues a full 50 years later. Suffice to say, Glenn Beck will probably not be mentioning this film today.
We’ll also echo Harris’ recommendation: “If you’ve never watched A Face in the Crowd before, do yourself a favor this July 4, and spend a couple hours with some Independence Day counter-programming: a dark vision of the country brought gloriously to the screen by one of America’s favorite sons.”
A stellar performance in a brilliant film that seems even MORE relevant now.
Andy was a cool dude…grew up watching him. “…mmmmm, good cracker.”
I didn’t watch the clips because I wanted to see the whole thing for the first time. You can download it on iTunes. I’m sure most Americans who loved Griffith never knew he played a scoundrel in 1957.
I was introduced to him by a film called “No Time For Sergeants”, which I loved as a kid, every time I saw it. It was obviously a template for The Andy Griffith show and Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.
“A Face in the Crowd” is a masterpiece. What great dialogue! A bit of a yarn, but amazingly prophetic. A pleasure to see Andy in such a powerful roll!