A long way from Mayberry

August 4th, 2008 at 11:10am Will Pfeifer

There’s a solid write-up of one of my favorite movies, A FACE IN THE CROWD, over at the Bright Lights Film Journal. If you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a surprise. Andy Griffith — yes, Sheriff Taylor — plays a power-hungry bum who becomes a media sensation. It’s an amazing performance, very different from anything else Griffith ever did.

The cast also includes Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Lee Remick (in her movie debut) and, in a tiny bit near the end, Rip Torn. It’s on DVD, so give it a look. You won’t be sorry. (The Bright Lights article is full of spoilers, so if you do want to watch A FACE IN THE CROWD, you might want to wait until after to read the article.)

Entry Filed under: Classic movies