"This whole country's just like my flock of sheep! "

Power, wealth, fame, and manipulation can kill a man. This is evident in the movie “A Face in a Crowd.” Like the saying goes “from rags to riches,” A Face in a Crowd is like a timeless fairy tale Cinderella story with a twist. Although the movie debuted in 1957, the storyline contends many current aspects in terms of media and advertising. The movie starts off with a reporter from Arkansas, Marcia (Patricia Neal) and her assistant Walter Matthau who visited a local jail in search of stories from jail inmates. She came across a vibrant boisterous man named Lonesome also known as Andy Griffith or “Matlock.” Marcia made the decision to pick up this original Joe and offer him a chance to host his own segment on the radio. Of course Lonesome’s took this opportunity and eventually his charismatic personality made him into an overnight sensation. Lonesome then upgraded nationally by staring in his own television show.

Lonesome’s personality was eccentric and hypnotizing towards audiences across the country. Eventually, endorsements and sponsors of all kinds started piling up due to his popularity. Lonesome can be compared to the late 1990s boy band craze. Sure he was not a full time musician, but his popularity is similar to boy bands such as sponsors, endorsements, and of course flocks of crazy girl fanatics. Power is the biggest manipulator. This stands true today. (Do musicians and celebrities ring a bell?) Lonesome took advantages of his fame and used and discarded anyone who got in his way of stardom. Lonesome’s personality went from a real wholesome country boy to a greedy fame hungered monster. He had his audience at the palm of his hand manipulating the public like naïve little children. Enough was enough for many, especially for Patricia. No one wanted to put up with his attitude and during a taping of his show many, including Patricia was down to her last straw. When the credits where rolling, Patricia pulled a cord and the public heard Lonesome bashing the public calling them “suckers” “stupid idiots” and so forth. What a great way for Patricia to give Lonesome a taste of his own medicine! Lonesome had no idea what was done, and after went to his banquet. He invited many powerful executives, but to his surprise no one showed up. Little did he know what have happen and was confuse of the lack of turnout. He consoled himself with hard liquor where Patricia along with her assistant confessed the big news. Lonesome went a little nuts knowing his successful fame went down the drain. At the end of it all, he threatens to jump off a building, while usually sympathetic Patricia leaves him without hesitation. This movie depicts an era where television was still going through its beginning stages. For many, like Lonesome it created so much power that it was destructing and sadly ruining. Andy Griffith acting was over the top, but he played a crazy greedy man really well.

No matter what era, the 1950s or today’s media power still stands strong. Media should stay true to their audience unlike Lonesome where manipulating them can cause serious bad karma like Lonesome. All in all even though the movie lagged in a couple of scenes, the message was loud and clear; the media is a powerful, one that should not be taken advantage of.