A Face in the Crowd

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 a composite of various public figures, including Will Rogers, Huey Long, Arthur Godfrey and Tennessee Ernie Ford. The film launched Griffith into stardom, but it received mixed reviews on its release. Subsequent reappraisals have been k