Re: RIP: Andy Griffith
"A Face in the Crowd," by many accounts was loosely based on Arthur Godfrey, who was a huge radio and TV performer in the 1940s and 1950s. His early television shows were ratings blockbusters and his folksy, "aw shucks" delivery resonated with millions of viewers. He reportedly had a dark side, though, which came through one night on a live national broadcast on CBS when he fired Julius LaRosa on the air...reportedly because Julie's popularity had grown and his fan mail was outpacing Arthur's. The episode greatly diminished Arthur Godfrey's "just plain folks" image.
The author of "A Face in the Crowd" always maintained that the story was based somewhat on the private and public life of Will Rogers, but there are many scenes in the movie that were clearly inspired by Arthur Godfrey.
"A Face in the Crowd" is a superb movie and shows Andy Griffith's phenomenal acting depth. I don't believe it was a box office blockbuster at the time and I think it opened to mixed reviews, but over the years, its critical acceptance and public appreciation have grown to the point where it is now considered a classic.
"A Face in the Crowd," by many accounts was loosely based on Arthur Godfrey, who was a huge radio and TV performer in the 1940s and 1950s. His early television shows were ratings blockbusters and his folksy, "aw shucks" delivery resonated with millions of viewers. He reportedly had a dark side, though, which came through one night on a live national broadcast on CBS when he fired Julius LaRosa on the air...reportedly because Julie's popularity had grown and his fan mail was outpacing Arthur's. The episode greatly diminished Arthur Godfrey's "just plain folks" image.
The author of "A Face in the Crowd" always maintained that the story was based somewhat on the private and public life of Will Rogers, but there are many scenes in the movie that were clearly inspired by Arthur Godfrey.
"A Face in the Crowd" is a superb movie and shows Andy Griffith's phenomenal acting depth. I don't believe it was a box office blockbuster at the time and I think it opened to mixed reviews, but over the years, its critical acceptance and public appreciation have grown to the point where it is now considered a classic.
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