A Face in the Crowd [1957] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Customer Reviews:

Unappreciated Kazan masterpiece.......2007-04-09

`A Face In The Crowd' was directed in1957 by: Elia Kazan (On The Waterfront, 1954; Baby Doll, 1956; A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951; East Of Eden, 1955, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, 1945). He may be perhaps the greatest of all American directors and certainly one of most consistent along with Howard Hawks and Billy Wilder. Kazan was the co-founder of the New York Actor's Studio that taught the Stanislavski theory of acting or Method Acting as it would become known. The idea is to suppress the actor own personality and thereby become the role they are playing. Kazan was looking to move cinema away from the closed romantic realism of classic Hollywood into new territory and subject matter such as: youth, sex, racism and politics. In `A Face In The Crowd' we get to see almost a prophetic look at the corrupting power of the then new medium of television. Television is being used as a medium to sway public opinion in your favour, be it sell vitamin pills or your politics. We also see the coaching of a US senator in the Method to create a change of personality and thus win over the television viewer/voter. Yet as quick as it can make you it can also break you. It seems even more relevant today.

`A Face In The Crowd' starred Andy Griffith (Matlock (TV)) who is brilliant is wonderfully cast in his debut picture as Lonesome Rhodes. He exudes a raw comic energy of a larger than life character that is perfect for the role. He is supported by excellent performances from Walter Matthau and Patricia Neal (The Day The Earth Stood Still, 1951; Breakfast At Tiffiny's, 1961; Hud, 1963). The screenplay was written by Budd Schulberg (A Star Is Born, On The Waterfront) and supposedly based on the career of Arthur Godfrey. The excellent cinematography was by Harry Stradling (A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951; Johnny Guitar, 1954).

A felt that this was a wonderful film similar in many ways to `All The King's Men' (1949, Robert Rossen) and `Network' (1976, Sidney Lumet) and deserves to be more widely known.

The DVD is an excellent transfer with a short documentary featuring Andy Griffith and Budd Schulberg.

Customer Reviews:

Good but irritating.......2008-02-15

This DVD does capture the world of Swallows and Amazons as I know it in the books. But do we have to have the irritating logos between each episode?

Childrens TV at its best.......2004-07-11

Wonderful attention to period detail. Even the films colours are right for the period. Child actors excellent. Storylines as you would expect from Arthur Ransome. Bonus for Dr Who fans - Patrick Troughton and Colin Baker appear in episode 1 of The Big Six !. Buy it you won't regret it. A treasure.

Wonderful.......2004-01-17

If you like nature, sailing, kids and bad plots this fits the bill. I have sailed on the Norfolk Broads and this series captures the atmosphere perfectly. The sailing is technically accurate too. I'm old enough to remember England in earlier times. Once again the atmosphere has been captured nicely. The unusual Norfolk regional accent is evident and sometimes realistic. This is a classic and fully in the spirit of the Swallows and Amazons books.

Customer Reviews:

This one's a real gem!!.......2005-02-15

I have to be honest, if I hadn't been studying the book for a university course, I would probably never have come across this film, but I am SO glad I did. Based on the novel by Wilkie Collins, this film has a good adaptation of the story (something not all film versions have). It is a drama in every sense of the word. From a mystery to suicide and a satisfying ending, this film is a perfect companion to the book, but also if you just want to sit down on a sunday afternoon and spend a couple of hours enjoying a really good film. Highly recommended.

Where is the DVD?!.......2004-07-19

This has to be my favorite period drama to date. The story is captivating and the acting superb. Couple this with the excellent score and this is a film that I have to return to time and time again.
Keeping almost entirly faithfull to Collins, the adaptaion is one of the best I have seen for classic English literature.
The only problem is the format. When will we see the DVD? If you can bring yourself to go back to VHS then this is definitly worth buying!

Excellent period drama.......2003-02-25

I watched The Moonstone when it first appeared on tv a good few years ago and enjoyed it every bit as much as when I originally read the book by Wilkie Collins. It's an excellent "whodunnit" and really keeps you guessing. Greg Wise is a consumate actor and is also good to look at!! If you enjoy costume drama/mystery then I recommend you treat yourself to a copy of The Moonstone - you'll be gripped!!!

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