This week one of my favorites. Elia Kazan's
A Face In The Crowd is simply amazing. It is mind boggling that this film received zero Oscar nominations; of course when you look at the films up for the honor that year there is not much room for argument.
The Bridge Over the River Kwai,
Peyton Place,
Sayonara,
12 Angry Men, and
Witness For the Prosecution. But still you would think they would throw it a bone, best screenplay, something. The greatest snub though was for Andy Griffith's performance as Lonesome Rhodes. That's right the future Sheriff of Mayberry; but in this role he is far from the moral Andy Taylor. He breathed a fire into the character and just took control of the film; you could easily see yourself falling under his spell like the public does in the film. And this was his film debut in a leading role! Too bad the
Andy Griffith Show caused him to be typecast and kept him from receiving chances at more roles like this.
The film is set at the time when radio was still popular but slowly losing ground to the new medium of TV. A local radio personality Marcia Jeffries (Patricia Neal) is out looking for new talent to feature and discovers Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes while visiting a prison in Arkansas. While he isn't polished he has a charm that she can't help but fall for. She features Lonesome on her radio show and he quickly becomes popular to the local listeners. As his popularity grows he is asked to appear on a small TV program in Memphis. It goes well until he insults one of the sponsors of the program on air. The sponsor plans to cancel the show but soon discovers that Lonesome has actually helped increase sells. Rhodes takes to the new medium and quickly is able to build an even larger audience than his radio listeners.
With the aid of an office boy of the sponsor Lonesome is able to land a deal in New York City. He now gains control of a national program and with his Southern charm and everyman appearance he is able to gain more influence; becoming the "voice of the people". As always with power comes ego and Lonesome already had plenty to spare before earning his new found fame. To him everything he touches turns to gold and he can't possibly lose. So it doesn't surprise him when the Senator of NY decides to recruit him for his run at the Presidency. Lonesome uses all his tricks and charm and to try to turn the Senator into a contender.
During all this Jeffries has watched the rise of Rhodes and is one of the few to know his true nature and his contempt for his audience. She feels betrayed by Lonesome and finally decides she must help to destroy her own creation. When she sets in motion those plans we have one of the best endings in film history.
This movie is just ahead of it's time. Once again a film that shows the power of the media to create as well as destroy a persona. As well as showing how the media can be used by the right person to manipulate the public to do almost anything. Though not nominated, the movie had an excellent script, director, supporting cast and of course Andy Griffith ignited the screen with a passion rarely seen. In a vast majority of films the actor is pretty interchangeable so if it was someone else playing the role it wouldn't matter the result would be the same. That is not the case here. I can't imagine another actor in the role; Griffith possesses all the qualities of Rhodes like no other actor could. Much like you could not replace Gregory Peck in the role of Atticus Finch. I can't think of an actor past or present that could embody all the qualities of the character like Peck. I would rate Griffith's performance in my top ten of all time. So if you want a see a truly magnificent performance check this one out you won't be disappointed.
This week one of my favorite adaptations of Shakespeare's great work Macbeth; Scotland, PA. It is set in the mid 70's with Macbeth named Joe Mcbeth(James Legros); working in a diner for it's owner Norm Duncan(James Rebhorn). "Lady" Mcbeth is played very convincingly by Maura Tierney with Christopher Walken rounding out the excellent cast as Lt Ernie Mcduff.
While you would think such a setting would reduce the drama of such a great play it does not. While it is written more as a dark comedy it is still very dark particularly Tierney's Lady Macbeth. The Mcbeth's have become increasingly tired of not receiving recognition for what they do for Duncan. After an encounter with "the three witches" here portrayed amusingly as hippies Joe gets a glimpse of the future which involves a Drive Thru. The following day Duncan reveals his plans for a drive thru to the couple and Joe realizes that he has been given the opportunity to change his fate. With the prodding of his "lady" they decide to kill Duncan and move forward with his idea. Though there are a few false starts they achieve their goal not without Pat getting burnt on her hand by some oil from the deep fryer; hence the famous "Damn spot".
Everything seems to be going great for the Mcbeth's as Duncan's sons have no interest in the diner and are eager to sell it to their father's loyal workers. Joe and Pat build the drive thru and business begins to boom. That is until Lt Mcduff starts to investigate the murder. Walken is perfect for the role seemingly confused but knows more than he lets on. Out of fear Pat once again manipulates Joe into killing the fry cook "Banko" whom she suspects knows the real story and may go to Mcduff.
As Mcduff continues to sniff around the diner Pat and Joe become more and more desperate and decide they must do something with him as well. It all spirals down to an very 70's climax that is fitting to the play. Overall it is very well acted from the leads to the supporting roles. It also boasts an excellent soundtrack for an indy film. All the elements seem so strange to use for Macbeth but they are all crafted together perfectly in Scotland, PA.
By far the best performance was Tierney's as Pat Mcbeth. As with any version of Macbeth you must have a strong actress portraying the most famous manipulator in history or the adaptation will fail. I was skeptical of how well she would be in the role having only seen her on ER but she blew me away. I could see myself easily doing what she asked had I been in Joe's shoes. I only wish she had gotten some better roles after this but have not seen anything yet that approaches her level in this movie. So if you are in the mood for some Shakespeare and aren't looking to decipher his prose check out this somewhat modern version of one of, if not the best of his plays.
