A Face in the Crowd (1957) DVD9 and Blu-Ray Criterion Collection, download for free

Jun04

A Face in the Crowd (1957) DVD9 and Blu-Ray Criterion Collection

by movieworld on June 4th, 2019 at 06:09

This is one of the greatest films of the 1950s, a prophetic film about the dangerous power of modern media. Like "Network" which followed two decades later, Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd" is a vitriolic condemnation of the media and the monsters it creates that was ahead of its time.

In an astonishing screen debut, Andy Griffith portrays Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, a fast-talking drifter fortunate enough to find himself in the right Arkansas jailhouse at the right time. Local radio personality Marcia Jeffries (the always capable Patricia Neal) plans to feature his singing/songwriting talent on her radio show, but gets much more than she realized when Rhodes quickly displays his down-home talent for swaying public opinion, cleverly starting with housewives. Then he converts the local sheriff into a dogcatcher, later he offers up a private pool for use by all the town's children. Rhodes' uncanny talent for appealing to the masses soon lands him on television in Memphis, where his mass appeal soars to new heights, all while alienating program sponsorship and causing those closest to him to have doubts. Eventually his grass roots platform allows him to shape a major politician's campaign, whereby Rhodes envisions unrivaled political power for himself.

Director: Elia Kazan
Cast: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, Walter Matthau
Country: USA
Genre: Drama, Music

BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 02:06:11 | 45.2 Gb + 7.34 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Facing the Past - this archival documentary focuses on Elia Kazan's political activities and specifically his association with the Communist Party, his troubles after his testimony before HUAC, and the evolution of his career. Also, there are plenty of observations about A Face in the Crowd and nature of the dilemmas that its main protagonist faces. The documentary uses clips from archival interviews with actors Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, and Anthony Franciosa, screenwriter Budd Schulberg, and film scholars Leo Brady and Jeff Young. It was produced and initially appeared on the old A Face in the Crowd of DVD release from Warner Bros. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080i).

• Ron Briley - in this new video program, Ron Briley, author of The Ambivalent Legacy of Elia Kazan: The Politics of the Post-HUAC Films, discusses Elia Kazan's social and political background, the dramatic impact that his testimony before HUAC had on his career, and some of the key themes and political overtones in A Face in the Crowd. The program was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (21 min, 1080p).

• Evan Dalton Smith - in this new video program, Andy Griffith expert Evan Dalton Smith discusses the early stages of the iconic actor's career and his difficult transformation into the character of Lonesome Rhodes.The program was produced for Criterion in 2018. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - a remastered vintage trailer for A Face in the Crowd. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).