The Demagogue in Denim: 'A Face In the Crowd' (1957) with Maggie Hill

The Sleepless Cinematic Podcast

For their Politics-related "Suggestion Box", Madeline, Emilio, and Julian invite social media professional and film lover Maggie Hill to a conversation about Elia Kazan's 'A Face In The Crowd', a film from 1957 whose observations about television, mass persuasion, and political ambition seem more relevant today than ever. Emilio starts the discussion with how the filmmakers' personal and professional experiences with the Hollywood blacklist most likely influenced this cynical look at American institutions. Madeline notes how the film's central figure Lonesome Rhodes is wildly different than the wholesome persona the actor who plays him, Andy Griffith, would eventually cultivate on his beloved eponymous TV show. Julian sees the ripples of this film in several other films about fame and personal connection. Maggie sees the film's female lead Marcia and her ambition as the skeleton key to a deeper understanding of the film. These, and many other observations, ground a discussion about 'A Face In The Crowd' and its place among the more interesting and enduring films to emerge from the 1950s Hollywood.
Maggie Hill is a writer/director/producer whose thoughtful content about media can be found on the socials: @themaggiehill
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