Rent A Face in the Crowd on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Budd Schulberg
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Starring: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, Walter Matthau
Rated: Approved [TV-14]
Watch the trailer
Plot
Female radio reporter Marcia Jeffries turns folk-singing drifter Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes into a powerful media star who becomes utterly detestable during his meteoric rise.
Verdict
Astute and prescient, this portrays the rise and stumble of an egomaniac. It ponders the question of whether money changes people. It doesn't. It just provides them freedom. When Larry was poor he relied on others out of necessity. As he became famous he could rely on himself and his influence, always opportunistic. He becomes enamored with himself and then careless.
Watch It.
Review
This movie helped launch Griffith's career. It's a different role for him if you're used to "Sheriff" Griffith. He plays Larry, a drunk folk singer in lockup. Radio reporter Marcia (Patricia Neal), looking for man on the street interviews, finds Larry still hungover and convinces him to perform. She realizes he has a lot of personality and would do well on the radio, a mutually beneficial deal. He's charismatic and tells it like it is, becoming a hit on the radio and getting multiple requests for appearances. He's just a good old country boy and people flock to it. He's grass roots, and his honesty is refreshing.
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| Andy Griffith plays Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes |
Larry soon leaves the small town for a bigger city. We get a glimpse that he might not be as genuine as he seems. He quickly dismisses the comment as a joke, but he may be sharper than he lets on. Larry ends up on television with his own show. He introduces an ad and insults the company. The company is mad, but their sales increase. He does the same for another company. When you can make people money, that brings power.
Despite the age of this movie, it seems just as relevant today. If anything maybe it's a bit naive. Now we don't doubt that everyone on television is selling something.
Larry is approached to boost a political candidate. Larry urges him to adopt slogans and sound bytes. It's all about presentation. Larry is much more than a simple country boy. Marcia is the one that gave Larry a spot on the radio, launching his career. She thought they had a relationship, but she soon realizes he's an opportunist. He used her while it was convenient. She's conflicted. She introduced him to the world, and now he has outsized power and influence.
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| Andy Griffith plays Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes |
This probes the question of whether money changes people. I've always attested it doesn't, it just gives people the opportunity to show who they are. That and it may be that the people chasing riches have to be ruthless to achieve them.
Influence brings money and that brings power. When Larry reaches that point, it was clear he was always focused on the ends. His down home style slowly erodes. When on camera he's Lonesome Larry. When the cameras turn off he berates everyone in his orbit. He's egocentric, craving attention and crowds. The truth of who he is off camera is revealed. It puts a dent in his popularity, but as a character points out charismatic people like Larry will always have a place on television despite their misdeeds.
How many influencers, entertainers, and politicians seem a lot like Larry? People like that can always charm people despite their mistakes. Even when they stumble, they still manage to succeed.
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