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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Four Faces of Andy ... He Was Never Just A Face In The Crowd ...

Andy Griffith's death is all over the internet today.  He was a hilarious country bumpkin comedian in his early years, an actor of great dramatic talent in the late 50's, the country's most loved small-town sheriff and father in the 60's, and a savvy elderly lawyer in his later years.  I just felt that I had to remember all of the faces of Andy Griffith.

His best comedy album -- I laughed 'til I cried with his country boy's
explanations of:  "What It Was Was Football" and "Romeo and Juliet."



"A Face in the Crowd" from 1957.  One of the most powerful performances on film.
For those who only know him as Sheriff Taylor, you wouldn't believe
the same actor could be such a terrifying character.



Andy and Barney ... part of my childhood I will always love and never forget. 



A large audience of people didn't care that Matlock was
coined as a show for the geriatric crowd -- they loved it anyway.

We will never really miss Andy -- he will be all over the airways for many years to come, God willing.  If you are in the mood, I picked out one of my top favorite Andy Griffith shows for you -- "The Pickle Story".



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16 comments:

  1. John/24FramesJuly 3, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    For me, Griffith's greatest role was as Lonesome Rhoades in A FACE IN THE CROWD, an underrated Kazan film that tells us more about TV today than ever. A nice tribute Becky!

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    1. ClassicBeckyJuly 3, 2012 at 5:17 PM

      Thanks, John. Playing Lonesome Rhoades was indeed an incredible achievement in acting. I had only known him as Sheriff Taylor, and when I was about 11, my Dad said I had to see what the actor Andy Griffith could really do, so we watched A Face In The Crowd. I was stunned! You are so right about the 1984-type prophetic story of what TV really is!

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  2. Caftan WomanJuly 3, 2012 at 6:54 PM

    We will always have what Andy gave us - a wealth of entertainment from a very talented man. Nonetheless, it is a sad passing for many of us.

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    1. ClassicBeckyJuly 3, 2012 at 11:51 PM

      It almost feels like someone in the family is gone, doesn't it?

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  3. Ivan G Shreve JrJuly 3, 2012 at 11:29 PM

    For me, it will always be about The Andy Griffith Show. Like that Me-TV promo for The Dick van Dyke Show, which states simply "It's just funny"--the same reasoning applies to the folks of Mayberry as well. The real melancholia from Griffith's passing hasn't hit me yet but give it a couple of days (it's probably because I've been too busy, including composing a piece for RS) and I'll be dragging out the DVDs for a good wallow/

    It's funny you posting the episode about the "kerosene pickles" -- they showed a clip of that on the NBC Evening News, and I kind of welled up (but my favorite TAGS outing is "The Sermon for Today" - "Spider bite!").

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    1. ClassicBeckyJuly 3, 2012 at 11:54 PM

      I think like NBC does? Hmmm... Oh yes, the Sermon! And The Haunted House. Citizen's Arrest. Barney in those dorky goggles on the motorcycle. And any episode with the Darlings!

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  4. Christian EsquevinJuly 4, 2012 at 1:34 AM

    Nice tribute Becky. I agree with you wholehearedly about his performane in
    "Face in the Crowd," now there's a performance that should have gotten an Oscar. I remember seeing him in the play "Six Characters in Search of an Author" on PBS about 30 years ago and I knew that the Andie Griffith Show was just the tip of his iceberg.

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    1. ClassicBeckyJuly 4, 2012 at 10:13 PM

      Thank you, Christian. I would love to see the PBS play -- it's a great play and I would love to see what Griffith does with it. Wonder if I can find it anywhere? I'll have to search...

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  5. DawnJuly 4, 2012 at 7:31 AM

    The Andy Griffith Show, has always been one of my favorite shows.. I was very sadden with the news of his passing.

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    1. ClassicBeckyJuly 4, 2012 at 10:15 PM

      It's a wonderful show -- it's been 52 years since the first episode aired, and new audiences keep finding it.

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  6. The Lady EveJuly 4, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    You are so right about "A Face in the Crowd," Becky, Lonesome Rhodes was Andy Griffith's great dramatic tour de force. He was also believably Gomer-like in "No Time for Sergeants" and then there's 'Andy of Mayberry'...very nice tribute to a beloved and very talented actor.

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    1. ClassicBeckyJuly 4, 2012 at 10:15 PM

      Thanks so much, Eve -- I really loved the man and his talents.

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  7. Silver ScreeningsJuly 7, 2012 at 2:46 PM

    A wonderful tribute. Thanks for posting all these great photos. Love the album cover for "What it Was, Was Football".

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    1. ClassicBeckyJuly 7, 2012 at 11:03 PM

      Thanks so much! I was tickled to see that album cover too!

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  8. DorianTBJuly 8, 2012 at 7:08 PM

    Becky, I think it's safe to say we all feel like we knew Andy Griffith, in all his forms, from folksy stand-up comic to his searing performance in A FACE IN THE CROWD (should've gotten an Oscar nomination for that one!), his various hit TV series -- the man was more multifaceted than he got credit for, even with all his fame and fortune. He will be missed! So will Ernest Borgnine, but he'll surely be getting his tribute any minute now, alas.

    P.S.: On a brighter if somewhat unrelated note, Becks, I love your new avatar with the classic Warner Bros logo -- my favorite movie studio!

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  9. Rick29July 9, 2012 at 3:46 AM

    Becks, A FACE IN THE CROWD isn't one of my favorite movies, but Andy Griffith is very good in it. For those only familiar with his TV series, it's a huge departure and shows that he could be much more than a folksy charmer.

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