No Oscar Nominations? - A Face in the Crowd (1957) Discussion

[–] oldmotem 14 years ago

Moi aussi. I think many who know of this gem wonder what happened. All I can think is that it was made during McCarthy Era crap and that buried it. Of course, Andy Griffith deserved BEST ACTOR of that year, but wasn't even nominated.

It makes you realize the Awards have NADA to do with talent/performance/quality, and EVERYTHING to do with politics, connections, the almighty American Dollar, and popularity (which is often a product of publicity).

I feel this movie had very little publicity. It's still largely an unknown work. This is ludicrous. AND, of course, the American Way.

As another case study, look into Orson Welles and what happened to his films. MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS in particular. Them HollyRude boys get them paws on something it really gets trashed, lemme tell ya.

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[–] digitaldiva 14 years ago

Hi oldmotem,

Both the director and the screenwriter had named names before HUAC and there was a great deal of anger toward them. The film got a great deal of attention positive attention from critics and made Lee Remick's career but I'm with you, Andy Griffith deserved the Oscar for his performance.

Regarding the Oscars, in the past years, small films do get the attention; however, that wasn't the case when when A Face In the Crowd was released and as I noted a number of people in Hollywood were still angry with Kazan and Shulberg.

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[–] Adler-99 12 years ago

I agree. When I was finished watching this, I just said, "Wow." Griffith and Neal both deserved nominations.

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[–] AriesJB4 12 years ago

I had never watched this film before but I saw it was on TCM in the tribute to Andy Griffith and set the dvr to record it. Wow - excellent performances all around especially by Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau and Lee Remick. Anthony Franciosa's style of acting never changed re: characters he played in the movies for the most part.

I do agree that the very least that could have been done was give Andy and Patricia Neal Oscar nominations, but Griffith was so outstanding that he easily could have beat Sir Alec Guinness in "Bridge on the River Kwai" had he received a chance to do so. What a turn of 180 degrees from Lonesome Rhodes to Sheriff Andy Taylor - mannerisms might have been there but oh that characterization. You just knew what the outcome would be with all of his contacts.

A film to remember.

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[–] hodie 11 years ago

Agreed, adler-99. Griffith and Neal were just outstanding.

Get me a bromide! And put some gin in it!

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[–] Yorick_Brown 11 years ago

Yeah.

I know that '57 was a great year for film but it astounds me that some room couldn't have been made for "Paths of Glory" and "A Face in the Crowd."

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black...

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[–] digitaldiva 11 years ago

So true, Yorick Brown, so true.

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[–] Cultfilmfeverforever 11 years ago

Andy was so good, he made it look too easy.

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[–] pullman1881 10 years ago

I read an interview with Andy Griffin years ago. He was asked why he never did more drama after he was so wonderful in this movie. He said Kazan had him so stressed and wound up 100% of the time and it made him almost crazy. He hated acting at this fever pitch. He vowed to never do serious drama again...and I don't think he did.

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[–] ggiroux3 9 years ago

Actually, he did do serious at least in the 70s. He was a cold-blooded evil guy in the TV movie "Pray for the Wildcats." See if it's on Youtube.

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[–] EtaoinShrdlu001 9 years ago

TV Guide made a huge deal about his performance in that Movie of the Week!
I guess nobody remembered he could 'play bad'.

Before "Face in the Crowd", most people had only seen Griffith do his 'hayseed' monolouges on Steve Allen.
(I have a 7in. 45 of 'What it was, was Football' and him explaining Romeo & Juliet, from that era. It's really funny! [ And for sale.....] )

If that's all you knew about him (this was well before Mayberry) you'd be in for quite a shock seeing "Face" in the movies. Griffith wasn't yet a big star or box office draw, so I don't think many folks got to see this exceptional performance.
I know he was on stage before "No Time for Sergeants", but don't know about before that.

I didn't see any box office numbers, but it seems the only 'Star', at the time, was P. Neal and she was coming back from a scandal of her own. Perhaps it 'slipped under the radar', because it was a small film, perhaps it was Red Scare prejudice, maybe Arthur Godfrey was pissed off and had some political pull.

Whatever happened, it was definitely, sadly overlooked at Oscar time.

[ I just found this review by 'tavm' under Griffith's bio for a 1997 short based on the sketch I mentioned: ]
"What it Was Was Football"

[After Griffith's death,] I searched YouTube for various of his shows and films that could possibly be there. I accidentally stumbled onto this short film while doing so. It begins by showing a picture of him in his '20s with text explaining that before becoming the famous TV sheriff, he was a comedian who wasn't quite known when he did this piece for a live audience which was recorded. It sold well enough that it led him on the way to fame and fortune. More than 40 years later, a black-and-white short film, mixing actors with vintage footage of the period of the recording, was made with that young Mr. Griffith describing his first experience [seeing a football game]

If you can't say something good about someone,
come sit right here by me.

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[–] Mr_Beale 10 years ago

Indeed. It's stunning that this had no nominations whatsoever. I get that 1957 was an exceptionally strong year for film, but still. 

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[–] MadSimian 10 years ago

Completely agree with you and other posters, at the least Griffith should have got a best actor nomination especially since he's playing against type. In fact, I think the only other film where he played an evil or villainous character is "Murder in Coweta County" and that was a tv movie at that(and which I'd love to see if I could ever find a copy lol).

The future belongs to those of us still willing to get our hands dirty. SaschaKonietzko

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[–] Cultfilmfeverforever 10 years ago

Check out Andy in SAVAGES and PRAY FOR THE WILDCATS. Both TV movies that I believe you can find on You Tube. Andy was a brilliant villain, just like Richard Thomas. Both great actors and both play so against type it's utterly astounding to behold. I'm a fan girl - Andy 4-Ever! : )

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[–] dvlaries 10 years ago

If Beatrice Straight could win an Oscar for a five minute scene in "Network," certainly Kay Medford's bitterly comic turn in "Crowd" was worth a similar nomination. In fact, both movies are among my favorites, and both reveal how dangerous it is when a loose cannon gains public adulation.

And an Oscar nomination was no less deserved for Griffith's "Lonesome Rhodes" than was Peter Finch's "Howard Beale." Griffith is so stunningly good, you can regret that the dramatic vein he was clearly gifted with went so substantially untapped in all his sitcom years. Neal, at least, would not wait much longer for her own just reward.

- -
Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies every problem.

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[–] rc-108 9 years ago

yes.. hard to believe.
Patricia Neal was very good...
and Andy Griffith was tremendous in this movie....
great movie....

made me think of Network...

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[–] markedjuan 9 years ago

And in that same year Peyton Place gets all those nominations, including an acting nod for Lana Turner????! Scandalous!

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[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Yeah, it's a masterpiece and should have been nominated for at least 5 Oscars.

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[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

1957 was one of the best years for movies

The Bridge on the River Kwai
12 Angry Men
Witness for the Prosecution
Sweet Smell of Success
Paths of Glory
The Three Faces of Eve

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[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I agree it was an excellent year, but I think A Face in the Crowd deserved nominations. I would rank A Face in the Crowd above all of those films you mentioned, except for 12 Angry Men.

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[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Band of Angels is another good movie from that year.

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[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I haven't seen that one, but 1957 also had: The Seventh Seal, The Throne of Blood, The Cranes Are Flying, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Wild Strawberries, Tip on a Dead Jockey, Nights of Cabiria, Funny Face, and An Affair to Remember.

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