The rise of a raucous hayseed named Lonesome Rhodes from itinerant Ozark guitar picker to local media rabble-rouser to TV superstar and political king-maker. Marcia Jeffries is the innocent Sarah Lawrence girl who discovers the great man in a back-country jail and is the first to fall under his spell.
Andy Griffith | Larry 'Lonesome' Rhodes | |
Patricia Neal | Marcia Jeffries | |
Anthony Franciosa | Joey DePalma | |
Walter Matthau | Mel Miller | |
Lee Remick | Betty Lou Fleckum | |
Percy Waram | Gen. Haynesworth | |
Paul McGrath | Macey | |
Rod Brasfield | Beanie | |
Marshall Neilan | Sen. Worthington Fuller | |
Alexander Kirkland | Jim Collier | |
Charles Irving | Mr. Luffler | |
Howard Smith | J.B. Jeffries | |
Kay Medford | First Mrs. Rhodes | |
Big Jeff Bess | Sheriff Big Jeff Bess | |
Henry Sharp | Abe Steiner | |
R.G. Armstrong | Teleprompter Operator | |
Beverly Bentley | Page Girl | |
John Bliss | Barefoot Baritone | |
Mary Boylan | One of Lonesome's Relatives | |
Walter Cartier | Minor Role | |
Larry Casazza | Second Printer | |
Bennett Cerf | Self | |
Lois Chandler | Secretary | |
Carolyn Craig | Redheaded Filly | |
John Stuart Dudley | Minor Role |
Director | Elia Kazan | |
Writer | Budd Schulberg | |
Producer | Elia Kazan | |
Musician | Tom Glazer | |
Photography | Gayne Rescher, Harry Stradling Sr. |