A Face in the Crowd (film)

A Face in the Crowd
A Face in the Crowd
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Elia Kazan
Screenplay by	Budd Schulberg
Based on	"Your Arkansas Traveler"; by Budd Schulberg
Produced by	Elia Kazan
Starring	Andy Griffith; Patricia Neal; Anthony Franciosa; Walter Matthau; Lee Remick;
Cinematography	Gayne Rescher; Harry Stradling;
Edited by	Gene Milford
Music by	Tom Glazer
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	May 28, 1957;
Running time	125 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

A Face in the Crowd is a 1957 American satirical drama film directed by Elia Kazan and starring Andy Griffith (in his film debut), Patricia Neal and Walter Matthau. The screenplay by Budd Schulberg is based on his short story "Your Arkansas Traveler" from the 1953 collection Some Faces in the Crowd.

The story centers on Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, a drifter who is discovered by the producer (Neal) of a small-market radio program in rural northeast Arkansas, and who rises to great fame and influence on national television. The character was inspired by Schulberg's acquaintance with Will Rogers Jr. The successes of Arthur Godfrey and Tennessee Ernie Ford were also acknowledged in the screenplay.

The film launched Griffith into stardom, but it received mixed reviews on its release. Subsequent reappraisals have been kinder to the film. In 2008, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".^[1]^[2]

^ "Cinematic Classics, Legendary Stars, Comedic Legends and Novice Filmmakers Showcase the 2008 Film Registry". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-09-30.

[1] "Cinematic Classics, Legendary Stars, Comedic Legends and Novice Filmmakers Showcase the 2008 Film Registry". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-09-30.

[2] "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-09-30.

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