Andy Griffith playing Bill O'Reilly?!

[Eric J in MN]

Sort of.

Check out this 3 minute video clip from "A Face in the Crowd" (1957.)

(British-bashing instead of French-bashing; Social Security bashing still the same.)

More information.

[Love Bug]

1. Excellent movie!

First time I saw it it was like watching Andy Taylor's evil twin or something. It's a brilliant performance.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

2. That is one helluva movie!!!

What fine, fine acting, too.

[NYCGirl]

3. It's well worth seeing the entire film. One of my favorites of all time.

You'll never forget Griffith's performance. He's mesmerizing.

From www.allmovie.com:

While it's about as subtle as a stick of dynamite in a keg of nails, A Face in the Crowd was one of the first intelligent attempts to examine the impact of mass media on average citizens. If Budd Schulberg's script plays its hand too heavily by today's standards (it's pretty hard to shock anyone now by telling them television can be used to manipulate the mass audience), it still works, thanks largely to fine work by a superb cast. In his film debut, Andy Griffith gave the greatest performance of his career as "Lonesome" Rhodes, a small-time con artist who discovers that his "aw shucks" homespun act can make him wealthy and powerful as a radio and television star. The near-cancerous growth of Rhodes' ego and unholy lust for power is a fascinating thing to witness, and anyone who knows Griffith only as Andy Taylor from Mayberry will be shocked by the gale-force megalomania of this role; he never again approached the mesmerizing ugliness of this character. Patricia Neal is equally impressive as the bright and ambitious Marcia, swinging from confidence to wounded vulnerability with heart-wrenching effectiveness. And while Walter Matthau has the thankless task of delivering the film's moral in his final speech, you can't say that he didn't know how to make the most of it, as he sums up Lonesome's crimes with lip-smacking cynicism. Add the crisp and adventurous black-and-white camerawork of Harry Stradling and Gayne Rescher, and Elia Kazan's brisk and methodically paced direction, and you get a "message movie" that still feels fresh, even if the message has dated. -- Mark Deming

[Eric J in MN]

5. RE "the message has dated."

The message of beware-the-right-wing-media is as important now as ever.

[NYCGirl]

6. I agree.

The movie is very pertinent to what's happening now.

[MrBenchley]

4. That IS a GREAT film!

And an eye-opener for those who only think of Andy Griffith as Opie's dad....he does a great job there.

[JAbuchan08]

7. "He's got the courage of his ignorance" great line!

[Eric J in MN]

9. Bill O'Reilly also has "the courage of his ignorance."

Rush Limbaugh, too.

[JAbuchan08]

10. Not to mention Bush, Cheney, Coulter, Hannity, Brownie

Alito, Gonzales, Rice, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz etc. etc. etc. I could go on.

[blogslut]

8. I wait in anticipation

...for Dubya to have his Lonesome Roads moment.

[Eric J in MN]

11. When Bush said that he doesn't think about Usama bin Laden much,

that should have done it.

When Bush joked about no-wmds-under-there that should have done it.

When Bush joked to the rich people in a room,
some people you the elite, I call you my base,
that should set off some alarm bells.

But 40% of America is completely loyal to Bush no matter what.

[blogslut]

12. when he's caught saying what he REALLY thinks about the average joe...

That will do it.

[NYCGirl]

17. His actions constantly show what he really thinks about the average joe...

but they vote for him anyway. I don't get it.

[HootieMcBoob]

13. rent this movie and watch it with you republican relatives n/t

[Armstead]

14. Yep that movie was eerily prescient

:et's hopt the O-reilly's and Hannitys and Limbaughs suffer the same face as Griffith's character did

[Eric J in MN]

18. Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly each had a big public embarassment

Limbaugh-drugs
O'Reilly-made obscene phone calls

But it doesn't seem to have hurt their ratings.

[AX10]

15. "He's got the courage of his ignorance."-Great Line

recomended.

[chat_noir]

16. Where would Andy be without Barney?!

"The Dubya Movie" starring Don Knotts

[Generic Other]

19. Great film!

Very relevant for our times.