A Face in the Crowd

A searing political satire from Elia Kazan, A Face in the Crowd follows the rise of Larry “Lonesome” Rhodes, a media sensation with a hunger for fame. However, after a devastating public gaffe, he is rebuked by the fans who once worshipped him. Released when McCarthy-era paranoia was at its peak, the film offers an early warning about the seductive nature of celebrity demagoguery. Paul Reubens’ all-time favorite film poignantly ends with Rhodes’ writer Mel promising that he will work again in television, but never with the same level of popularity. “One day people will ask whatever happened to what’s-his-name, he was so famous, how can we forget a name like that?”

Featuring an introduction by director Matt Wolf on Sep 11.