A Face in the Crowd is a 1957 American satirical drama film directed by Elia Kazan, starring Andy Griffith (in his film debut), Patricia Neal and Walter Matthau. The screenplay is by Budd Schulberg and is based on his short story "Your Arkansas Traveler", from the collection Some Faces in the Crowd (1953).
Plot[]
Ambitious young radio producer Marcia Jeffries (Patricia Neal) finds a charming rogue named Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes (Andy Griffith) in an Arkansas drunk tank and puts him on the air. Soon, Rhodes' local popularity gets him an appearance on television in Memphis, which he parlays into national network stardom that he uses to endorse a presidential candidate for personal gain. But the increasingly petulant star's ego, arrogance and womanizing threaten his rise to the top.
Cast[]
- Andy Griffith as Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes
- Patricia Neal as Marcia Jeffries
- Anthony Franciosa as Joey DePalma
- Walter Matthau as Mel Miller
- Lee Remick as Betty Lou Fleckum