(Thanks to Emily Baker for bringing this movie to my attention!)
This is a 1957 movie staring Andy Griffith (Lonesome Rhodes) and Patricia Neal (Marcia Jeffries). And, while it’s 65 years old, it was chillingly similar to what we’ve seen happen in the US. The movie demonstrates how easily a man who “just says it like it is” is able to endear himself to the poor and under-represented populations in America. This eventually leads to him building a significant amount of influence and power which isn’t always a good thing.
It’s available to rent on YouTube for $2.95, and I highly recommend it.
By “Copyright 1957 Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing Corporation” – Scan via Heritage Auctions. Cropped from the original image and retouched by uploader; see upload history for unretouched original., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87432983
The premise of the movie is that a young radio producer stumbles across a wild acting drifter who, as it turns out, is a captivating singer/performer with a personality full of crazy energy that draws people to him.
The producer connects him with sponsors and then his talent and popularity skyrocket, which propels him into fame and stardom.
As “Lonesome Rhodes” he develops a following of people who aren’t usually represented in the media – the poor, uneducated, country people, and they immediately connect with his public rejection of the established protocols and norms. Lonesome starts by encouraging his fans to have some fun and play some tricks, like taking their dogs to the small town Mayor’s home as a reminder to the Mayor that he could just as easily be a dog catcher. Than, he uses his celebrity to encourage his followers to send 50c each to help homeless people, which results in over $9,000 being raised.
Soon, Lonesome’s celebrity starts going to his head and comments such as “You should know me better than to believe everything I say” eventually leads to more disturbing comments like “They’re more stupid than I am so I’ve got to think for them”, and “America’s my flock of sheep. They remember what I tell them”.
When he’s called out for his obvious efforts to take advantage of people, his response is “I’m just being real: winding people up”.
One thing that really stuck out to me, besides the obvious actual events that this movie clearly predicted, is the term “influencer” being used. Lonesome refers to himself as an influencer, and there are multiple other references throughout the movie. I drew a very clear parallel between what they were describing and the current “Influencer” culture we live in. We listen to people we don’t even know because they appear cool and stylish, and talk to us in a way that we want to be talked to.
This movie is very on point and is clearly still as relevant now as it was then.
The Art of Peaceful Protest 
Its always funny to me just how much history repeats itself, especially when perfectly encapsulated in art. If only people took the warnings from media seriously!
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