A Face in the Crowd is a 1957 dramatic film produced and directed by Elia Kazan, written by Budd Schulberg and starred Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal. It was based on a short story (which I recently read), Your Arkansas Traveler, also written by Schulberg.
In the film, Lonesome Rhodes (Griffith), a charismatic guitar playing drifter, is discovered by Marcia (Neal), a radio station producer in rural Arkansas.
"She invites him to speak to the (radio) audience and sing while playing his guitar, and his raw voice, folksy humor and personal charm make him instantly popular. Marcia witnesses the charismatic Rhodes ad-lib his way to local area popularity, effectively criticizing local politicians along the way."
Eventually, Rhodes's popularity extends to him becoming a TV star in New York City. "As his fame, influence, and ego increase, Rhodes is enlisted to improve the appeal of a presidential hopeful."
Marc Fisher (a senior editor for The Washington Post) wrote the following in an article published in the newspaper on February 8, 2016:
"Trump’s rule-smashing romp may have no precedent in the annals of presidential campaigns, but the template for his remarkable rise was laid out in a little-known film masterwork half a century ago. A Face in the Crowd stars Andy Griffith as “Lonesome” Rhodes, a folksy, charming Arkansas traveler who soars to the pinnacle of American celebrity and political power.
In A Face in the Crowd, Budd Schulberg created a character who dares to say what regular folks privately think; who has few, if any, filters; and who gets away with rogue behavior because he’s charming and, eventually, successful."
Donald Trump and Lonesome Rhodes?
"a folksy, charming Arkansas traveler who soars to the pinnacle of American celebrity and political power.
ReplyDelete.... and who gets away with rogue behavior because he’s charming and, eventually, successful.""
Bill Clinton?