Cast: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa, Lee Remick
Excuse me, why hasn't Andy Griffith received an Academy Award for this film yet? Oh yeah, because at some point in history, Hollywood let the lunatics out of the asylum and now they're running the show--what used to be a very entertaining show, but now is a very dull and boring one full of miserably made comic book interpretations.
This film is the poster film for how anyone can be corrupted by money and power. Apparently no one listened to this film's message, or else we wouldn't have the Hollywood we have today.
THE PLOT: "Lonesome" Larry Rhodes (Andy Griffith) is serving time in an Arkansas jail for drunk and disorderly when he is picked up by local radio host Marcia Jeffries (Patricia Neal). She notices that he has amazing singing talent and he quickly becomes a star in Memphis. Soon after, he becomes the spokesperson for Vita-Jex, a Viagra-like pill that gives you amazing energy. Rhodes becomes a star and marries a drum majorette (Lee Remick).
Rhodes learns that a senator needs help winning votes for his campaign. He engineers a scheme that will make people vote for him, and subsequently turns Marcia and the entire public against him when he reveals his narcissism on camera after one of his shows. No one shows up for his party, and he takes on a Renfield-type persona (why am I always comparing people to this?), shouting at the top of his lungs and making his bum friend from Arkansas hit his clapping machine that Rhodes himself invented. At the end, Mel Miller (Walter Matthau) delivers a classic speech about how Rhodes will go down in history. The film ends with Rhodes screaming "Marcia!" at the top of his lungs.
THE REVIEW: Before there was Britney Spears' hit "Lucky," about corruption (and it actually happened), there was this film. My mom watched it with me once, and she said it was an incredibly powerful film for Andy to take on, and I agree. Everyone who has dreams of being rich and famous should watch this movie to see what could potentially become of them. 5 out of 5. Well done, Mr. Griffith.
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