Wow - foresaw Fox News, Limbaugh
Etc.
Except the Fox and Limbaugh are still on the air.
Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!
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MovieChat Forums > A Face in the Crowd (1957) Discussion > Wow - foresaw Fox News, Limbaugh
There's no politics in this, it's just a version of: live by the popularity poll, die by the popularity poll.
It could be based on the rise and fall of Sister Aimee (who got a mention in the 1927 song "Hooray for Hollywood", and who makes modern day televangelists look like amateurs).
Like Lonesome Rhodes, Sister Aimee came out of nowhere, became a national figure rivaling the President, and then a few incidents sent her back down.
Tiger Woods put on an all-American facade and, like Rhodes, a few not-for-public-consumption comments cost him endorsements. Likewise, a few racists comments from Michael Richards hurt his career. Ditto for Mel Gibson. In a matter of day, Donald Sterling when from mogul to laughing stock when his ex-girlfriend posted, what he thought was, a private conversation.
I agree, skolnick. It seemed more to be about the almost hypnotic power of mass communication when it meets a charismatic individual who seems to be saying what people are thinking. They trust him and in that trust is great power.
I'm not a fan of Donald Trump, but I can see a little of LR's patter in The Donald.
hodie1 >>> I'm not a fan of Donald Trump, but I can see a little of LR's patter in The Donald.
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http://blog.dilbert.com/post/127791494211/nate-silver-gives-trump-2-chance-of-getting
Scott "Dilbert" Adams >>> Since the beginning of time, every winner of every stick fight was a guy with a stick. So you’d expect that trend to continue. Until someone shows up to the fight with a flame thrower ...
Today’s post is intended to document my prediction. I do this because I know most of you are not yet convinced of the power of persuasion. You know persuasion is a real thing, but you have never seen a Master Wizard practice in public, in real time, without trying to cover his tracks. That’s new. Even Steve Jobs did most of his work behind closed doors.
This might be a game-changer not just for politics but for humanity’s sense of identity. When you see humans get reprogrammed in real time, it is hard to maintain a belief in free will.
In re.Trump (who at this moment is still leading the 2016 race for the GOP nomination), Cal Thomas, a columnist that I hardly ever agree with, had an excellent analysis a couple months ago titled: Donald Trump is 'Lonesome Rhodes'
"When you see humans get reprogrammed in real time, it is hard to maintain a belief in free will."
I disagree that Trump's fans are being "reprogrammed." I think they've always felt this way, believed those 'politically incorrect' beliefs - but this is the first time a leader - a presidential contender no less - has validated their beliefs and made it acceptable to think/behave that way. It's amazing how much the 'enforcers' at his rallies who remove protesters remind me of the beginnings of Hitler's brownshirted thugs.
It all starts this way.
Yes, it does, but it hardly pertains to just Rush, Fox News, Beck and so many others.
But it's a trait destined to continue as long as the public is willing to gull itself into believing just because they admire someone's talent, they are at all informed of the quality of their virtue. Thus we will continue to have Kings of Rock and Roll that are also ignorant hillbilly drug addicts, Kings of Pop who like to diddle little boys, and Heisman Trophy winners who are butchering murderers.
The shock is in our willful inability to learn from history.
Private faces in public places
are wiser and nicer
than public faces in private places
- -
Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies every problem.
Elvis was born and grew up very poor, but no one ever accused him of lacking character. He was a decent and respectable person, who abhorred the '60's 'drug culture'. He never used illegal drugs. He became addicted to prescription drugs bcos of enabling doctors and hangers-on. His doctor lost his medical license after Elvis' death, just like Michael Jackson's did. Should have been prosecuted as well. I won't comment on MJ, as this thread is about Elvis, but your description/opinion of him is both unfair and uninformed.
shareELVIS?
I thought he was talking about that "Cat Scratch Fever" guy!
Now that you pointed it out, though, - yeah, I can see what you mean.
Elvis . . .huh - hadn't crossed my mind.
But remember:
Horrible, lying, sex deviant, drug addicted, violent, hypocritical, racist, judgemental, mental Super Famous Rich People
are just the same as
Horrible, lying, sex deviant, drug addicted, violent, hypocritical, racist, judgemental, mental Real, Normal, Everyday People are
-- except they don't get any Real, Normal, Everyday Jailtime!
If you can't say something good about someone,
come sit right here by me.
lol. Only one guy is called the 'King of Rock n Roll', and that's Elvis. 'Cat Scratch Fever' is Ted Nugent (who is a bit of a blowhard tho lol). That's why I responded to him characterizing Elvis as an 'ignorant, drug addicted hillbilly'. Elvis was actually a very decent and humble person who did much to help others. There was nothing 'Lonesome Rhodes' about Elvis.
He was also none of those things you mention (except a prescription drug dependence brought on by his doctors and not through intentional or conscious abuse thereof by the man himself).
And, of course, most ppl are none of the above either (except either rich or everyday lol), regardless of their political leanings.
I'm still not saying anything about Elvis.
When I thought ignorant hillbilly, I thought of someone else.
Saying "that guy" was an attempt at humor; didn't wanna mention any names.
I may not be the biggest fan, but I understand he is drug free.
As you say, he does seem a little "out there".
I also did not mentioned any Political Leanings.
Just that rich and/or famous people can get away with a lot more than un-rich, un-famous people.
Famous folks make headlines, normal folks make license plates.
As do many people, I take pain meds for severe back problems.
If I suddenly stopped taking them, my body would revolt!
Because, after a few years, I'm fairly sure I must physically addicted to them.
(And my body is revolting.)
I have never taken more than I'm told. That would mean running out at the end of the month. What's the point?
I don't have a private Dr, who keeps increasing the dose, or shooting me up with "My Blanket."
( Still not about Elvis. )
If rich folks break a law, they get special treatment.
If their booboo Still Hurts, Really Bad.... they get Special Rush 'Treatment.'
I think I'm just tired of reading about rich people having more privileges that normal people don't have.
Basically, I'm being jealous, and feeling bad for myself, huh?
Ugh, bad week.
Well, at least I've never had a heart attack while pushing narcotic constipated poop out!
(That was about Elvis. )
You Fill Me with Inertia
My mistake re: Elvis & politics. It was dvlaries who made the ignorant reference to Elvis as a 'hillbilly drug addict'.
On everything else, I take your point and agree w you.
lol on the 'narcotic constipated poop'
His doctors would have gone to jail today, just like MJ's did.
Cheers.
"A Face in the Crowd" should be a double-feature with "Network". Both deal with the ugly side of fame and power in broadcast. Those themes are, of course, not new, and aren't just a presage of Fox News. Take away any political spin, and the same story could be applied to any popular public figure that has a spectacular downfall. It's been going on for a very long time.
Normally, reboots and re-imaginings are the sign of lazy studio execs. But I could see a legitimate update to "A Face in the Crowd" that also expands to include social media's influence. Maybe a David O. Russell or Paul Thomas Anderson could do this classic justice.
Who would you see as director and cast? Who would be the contemporary movie version of Lonesome Rhodes?
Truthfully, this looked like nothing more than something like Andrew Garfield, getting the Spiderman franchise, deciding he was a star and too busy to show up at a presentation and he loses it all.
I'm sure this has happened numerous times with actors in the past, before and after this movie, when they don't play the money-making game.
Performers endorse politicians as well. Again, nothing new there.
This all looked like nothing more than Joan Crawford pictured drinking a coke instead of her glorious Pepsi.
Moron.
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