Behind the Screens
The movie “A Face in the Crowd” is a compelling story, written by Bud
d Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan in 1957. This story is full of cynical humor and scheming characters. It also gives today’s present audience an idea of what life used to be like when mass media was still young and how people fell to the power of persuasion in advertising. Larry or “Lonesome” Rhodes, played by Andy Griffith, is a tumble weed just rolling with the wind, when Marcia Jeffries, played by Patricia Neal discovers him in a jail house interview while trying to find some interesting personalities for her radio talk show. Marcia is a business savvy, yet naïve woman who finds a spark of interest in Lonesome Rhodes’s personality. Rhodes appears to be a simple, well-spoke, country boy who can give the people a good piece of mind and what they crave, when he is in fact the exact opposite. So Marcia puts him on the radio encouraging Rhodes to do the Early Bird Show on KGRK radio and wham bam he is an overnight sensation. It all seems innocent at first, Rhodes tells it like it is and the people love it. But when the big heads realize that Rhodes actually has power over the people they seek to obtain his influence on America. When the over night sensation gains fans, sponsors and endorsements, his success gives him more power which turns him into a symbol of knowledge and influence. On his path to corruption Lonesome Rhodes is twisted into a sick maniacal, power hungry man. “This whole country's just like my flock of sheep! Hillbillies, hausfraus - everybody that's got to jump when someone else blows a whistle! They're mine!” This quote accurately describes Rhodes to his rotten core when the power of mass persuasion consumes him and fame and fortune goes to his head. Rhodes spins out of control spewing any rubbish that people will listen to, 
and influencing political powers in order to obtain higher ratings from fans. The sweet irony of this story is that Lonesome Rhodes becomes a manipulative, dishonest tramp of the media; the very thing that he used to criticize which also makes him a hypocrite, to add to the satire his pure image is shattered by his very maker, Marcia, and his true nature is revealed. Watch as this timeless classic of wealth, power, and corruption unfolds behind the screens in “A Face in the Crowd.”
d Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan in 1957. This story is full of cynical humor and scheming characters. It also gives today’s present audience an idea of what life used to be like when mass media was still young and how people fell to the power of persuasion in advertising. Larry or “Lonesome” Rhodes, played by Andy Griffith, is a tumble weed just rolling with the wind, when Marcia Jeffries, played by Patricia Neal discovers him in a jail house interview while trying to find some interesting personalities for her radio talk show. Marcia is a business savvy, yet naïve woman who finds a spark of interest in Lonesome Rhodes’s personality. Rhodes appears to be a simple, well-spoke, country boy who can give the people a good piece of mind and what they crave, when he is in fact the exact opposite. So Marcia puts him on the radio encouraging Rhodes to do the Early Bird Show on KGRK radio and wham bam he is an overnight sensation. It all seems innocent at first, Rhodes tells it like it is and the people love it. But when the big heads realize that Rhodes actually has power over the people they seek to obtain his influence on America. When the over night sensation gains fans, sponsors and endorsements, his success gives him more power which turns him into a symbol of knowledge and influence. On his path to corruption Lonesome Rhodes is twisted into a sick maniacal, power hungry man. “This whole country's just like my flock of sheep! Hillbillies, hausfraus - everybody that's got to jump when someone else blows a whistle! They're mine!” This quote accurately describes Rhodes to his rotten core when the power of mass persuasion consumes him and fame and fortune goes to his head. Rhodes spins out of control spewing any rubbish that people will listen to, 
and influencing political powers in order to obtain higher ratings from fans. The sweet irony of this story is that Lonesome Rhodes becomes a manipulative, dishonest tramp of the media; the very thing that he used to criticize which also makes him a hypocrite, to add to the satire his pure image is shattered by his very maker, Marcia, and his true nature is revealed. Watch as this timeless classic of wealth, power, and corruption unfolds behind the screens in “A Face in the Crowd.” 
1 comment:
This movie was so boring. Haha, well I mean part of it were good and parts of it really sucked. I am glad that Lonesome was in it though because he made it interesting and made me realize what assholes some people are behind the "screens!". Hope you're having a good weekend. I just saw I'm in your blog role, now you're in mine :). See you MONDAY! Yay, School!
Post a Comment