BEST ANDY GRIFFITH PROJECTS
“A Face in the Crowd” (1957): Though he would have career longevity via a more wholesome image, Griffith made a huge splash in his screen debut as “Lonesome” Rhodes, who becomes an unlikely media superstar and eventually defines the term “drunk with power.”
“No Time for Sergeants” (1958): Griffith starred as Army draftee Will Stockdale in three variations of the military comedy ... the original TV play, the stage version and this film. The latter two also featured someone who would remain significant in Griffith’s career, Don Knotts. “Onionhead” (1958): Staying in military mode, Griffith played a cook aboard a Coast Guard vessel who saw more action than his job might suggest. Turner Classic Movies shows the film Saturday, May 25.
“The Andy Griffith Show” (CBS, 1960-68): Well, of course. Griffith became one of America’s most popular TV stars as easygoing Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry, N.C., good boss to Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) and great single parent to Opie (Ronny Howard). While it certainly stood on its own, the series was spun off from Danny Thomas’ “Make Room for Daddy.”
“Hearts of the West” (1975): In this wonderful ode to Westerns, Griffith has a choice role as a seen-it-all movie extra who advises a show-business novice (Jeff Bridges). “Centennial” (NBC, 1978-79): Just about anyone who was a TV star at the time turned up in the miniseries adaptation of James A. Michener’s epic novel, with Griffith playing a professor who helps put the coda on the saga of a Colorado town.
“Salvage 1” (ABC, 1979): This fanciful adventure cast Griffith as a junk dealer who was willing to take on any assignment to retrieve sellable goods, using a spaceship built from salvaged parts.
“Murder in Texas” (NBC, 1981): Griffith earned an Emmy nomination for his work in this dramatization of the true story of a murder-suspected plastic surgeon (Sam Elliott). “Fatal Vision” (NBC, 1984): Though it was based on another true-crime story, this miniseries largely is considered the inspiration for “Matlock” due to Griffith’s character and performance in it.
“Matlock” (NBC/ABC, 1986-95): After some series tries that didn’t work out, Griffith scored his second iconic home-screen role as folksy but canny lawyer Ben Matlock. The show worked so well for NBC that when that network let it go, ABC picked it up for three more seasons; CBS will revive it next season, with Kathy Bates starring.