Political movies this week, including one NOW

[Lydia Leftcoast]

The Farmer's Daughter A Swedish maid is persuaded to run for Congress. Lots of populist messages in this film. Turner Classic Movies NOW

followed by

A Face in the Crowd If you think Andy Griffith is a lightweight, catch him in this 1958 film about a sociopathic drifter who is discovered by a small town radio station and eventually becomes a folksy media demagogue. Turner Classic Movies 7PM Central

Wednesday

Norma Rae One of the best-known movies about the labor movement, this concerns the struggle to organize factory workers in the South. Encore 9:50AM

Frida Mexican artist Frida Kahlo was married to leftist painter Diego Rivera and had an affair with Trotsky. These are only a few of her exploits in a film that makes highly creative use of her folk-art-influenced paintings. Starz 8PM

Please kick this is you read it. Thanks.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. Thanks, Lydia!

I haven't seen Face In the Crowd in a long time-it's a great movie!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Hmmph

Nobody else kicked this.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

3. I don't have TV...

but I sure would like to see that Andy Griffith movie. Sounds creepy.

KICK.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. It is

If you can't imagine Andy Griffith being evil, the film is worth it just for that.

Even though it's more than 45 years old, this film is a right-on satire of media hype, advertising, and cynical rightwing politics.

You can also see early career appearances by Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Lee Remick, and (I think) Joseph Campanella.