"A FACE IN THE CROWD" (1957) on TCM - Friday June 6, 8 o'clock pm ET

This movie is very prescient

Bump for Maureen Dowds's 7/19/25 NYT column, "MAGA's New Target: Trump," wherein she notes his similarity to the film's protagonist, Lonesome Rhodes.

non paywall link below

Twice I've tried to watch this movie, and I just can't get through it. Andy Griffith's accent grates on me so bad, I just have to turn it off about 1/2 hour in.

Is it just me?

Mute it and resume listening during the last half hour, senior lesbian.

It is worth the payoff Senior Lesbian

OK, R5, I like that idea -- and since I've already seen enough of it to get the premise, maybe I'll give it one more shot.

But honestly, what I really should try to do is read the screenplay.

The debut of Lee Remick

A Face in the Crowd is one of those movies not enough people know about, but once you see it, it sticks with you. At first, it seems like a simple story about a regular guy becoming, ah schucks famous, but then it takes a dark turn and shows how easily charm and media can be used to manipulate people. If anything, it feels even more true now than it did back then.

I think what really throws people is Andy Griffith's performance. If you only know him as the friendly sheriff from The Andy Griffith Show, his performance here is a shock. He plays a loud, wild, power-hungry, sexy man, and he’s so good at it, it’s honestly unsettling. It’s like finding out Mr. Rogers has a big dick and knows exactly what to do with it.

This isn’t just an old movie, it’s a warning that’s only gotten more accurate with time.

Unlike Lonesome Rhodes, Trump would not lose his power over his cult followers even if he was caught on open mike ridiculing or demeaning them.

"That audio is fake." "He was talking about the libs." "He's done so much to make America great again, I don't take it personally."

Great film. I saw it in college for the first time for a class on TV studies, and I've thought about it ever since.

[quote]I think what really throws people is Andy Griffith's performance. If you only know him as the friendly sheriff from The Andy Griffith Show, his performance here is a shock. He plays a loud, wild, power-hungry, sexy man, and he’s so good at it, it’s honestly unsettling.

When you talk about "They were robbed!" stories of the Oscars, the fact that Griffith didn't receive Best Actor is near the top of the list. There was a lot more to him than Mayberry.

A "SPOILERS" warning would have been appropriate R10.

It's a thrilling movie.

My absolute favorite moment is Patricia Neal's:

"JUMP! JUMP! Do us all a favor and JUMP!!!!"

Why in the world did this receive no Oscar nominations?

Hard to explain R14 but I would say the same for 1958's Paths of Glory

^^^ 1957 same year as A Face in the Crowd

When our Orange Crap Pattie referred to his people as Weaklings and he didn’t want their support anymore - I thought of this movie. His downfall will come from his big ego and his big fat mouth. …….. Lee Remick looks adorable as a young cheerleader in this movie.

No. First came Arthur Godfrey.