A Face in the Crowd
A charismatic Ozark entertainer becomes a television sensation whose folksy persona turns mass-media fame into dangerous political power.
Overview
A captivating tale of ambition and manipulation in the world of media and politics.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- sardonic
- provocative
- foreboding
- classic cinema night
- political film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as provocative, hard-hitting, and sharply acted, especially praising Andy Griffith's explosive performance and its critique of television-fueled power, while noting occasional excess and uneven opposition to its central figure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lonesome Rhodes moves from radio and television celebrity toward political king-making, exposing how mass media can manufacture authority.
Rhodes's folksy hayseed image wins over Marcia, audiences, and political elites while his private conduct reveals its performative nature.
The film repeatedly foregrounds broadcasts, studios, microphones, and televised performances in stark black-and-white compositions.
The story traces Rhodes's progression from itinerant Ozark performer to national television star and political force, followed by his downfall.
Films like A Face in the Crowd, and why
Network
shared media satire, political manipulation, and corrosive ambition
Citizen Kane
shared rise-and-fall structure, celebrity culture critique, and morally compromised protagonist
The Great Dictator
shared examination of charismatic populism, power, and public spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Elia Kazan
- Release Date
- 1957-05-29
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (282)
Cast
- Andy Griffith
- Patricia Neal
- Anthony Franciosa
- Walter Matthau
- Lee Remick
- Percy Waram
- Paul McGrath
- Rod Brasfield
- Marshall Neilan
- Alexander Kirkland
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Face in the Crowd about?
- A charismatic Ozark entertainer becomes a television sensation whose folksy persona turns mass-media fame into dangerous political power.
- What is A Face in the Crowd like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Face in the Crowd as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is A Face in the Crowd violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in A Face in the Crowd.
- What did critics think of A Face in the Crowd?
- Critics broadly regard the film as provocative, hard-hitting, and sharply acted, especially praising Andy Griffith's explosive performance and its critique of television-fueled power, while noting occasional excess and uneven opposition to its central figure.
- Which films are like A Face in the Crowd?
- Films with a similar feel include Network, Citizen Kane, and The Great Dictator.
- How long is A Face in the Crowd?
- A Face in the Crowd runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Face in the Crowd?
- In United States, A Face in the Crowd is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
