Elmer Gantry

1960

Action / Drama

5
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 94% · 33 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 87% · 2.5K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.7/10 10 13869 13.9K

based on novel or book con man fraud kansas, usa religion preacher

Plot summary

A charismatic charlatan begins a business — and eventually romantic — relationship with a roadside evangelist to sell religion to 1920s America. Based on Sinclair Lewis' novel of the same name.

Director

Richard Brooks Photo
Richard Brooks

Top cast

Ralph Dumke Photo
Ralph Dumke as Salesman in Saloon
Wendell Holmes Photo
Wendell Holmes as Rev. Ulrich
Sally Fraser Photo
Sally Fraser as Prostitute
Philip Ober Photo
Philip Ober as Rev. Planck
720p.BLU 1080p.BLU
1.32 GB
1194*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 26 min
Seeds 5
2.45 GB
1792*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
2 hr 26 min
Seeds 11

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by ClassicAndCampFilmReviews 8 / 10

"You're all sinners! You'll all burn in hell!"

"Elmer Gantry" is an amazing film that does not seem dated at all, having lost none of its bite or appeal with the passing of time. Taken from the classic Sinclair Lewis novel of the same name, director Richard Brooks garnered an Oscar for Best Screenplay for his adaptation, and Burt Lancaster won his sole Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Elmer Gantry. Gantry is an over-the-top opportunistic traveling salesman who teams up with evangelist Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons) to promote religion in 1920's America. Gantry turns out to be the perfect publicity compliment to Sister Sharon, who, unlike him, is a true believer. Where she is quiet and gentle with her manner of preaching, he is all fire and brimstone, literally throwing himself about the audience and inflaming them into repentance.Burt Lancaster commands the screen: all flashing teeth, athletic energy, charisma, and wild hair, using his own physical prowess to great advantage. The angelic and lovely Jean Simmons, who had legions of adoring male fans when she was in her ethereal prime, portrays Sister Sharon (loosely based on a well-known real-life revivalist of the early 1920's, Aimee Semple McPherson, about whom I'd heard from my grandmother) in a manner reminiscent of her character in "Spartacus" - she was the perfect choice for this role, as was Lancaster for his.Shirley Jones was awarded the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her lively portrayal of prostitute Lulu Bains, whose past history with Gantry comes back to haunt him, with some of the best lines in the film - gleefully laughing as she dances about a room full of her fellow prostitutes, she recounts that "He rammed the fear of God into me so fast I never heard my old man's footsteps!" Watching Burt Lancaster in his prime use his athletic ability (he was a circus acrobat before he became an actor) and physical grace helps make his performance truly electrifying. And he also manages to believably evolve Elmer Gantry from loud-mouthed salesman to a sympathetic and honest human being over the course of the film.The top-notch supporting cast includes Arthur Kennedy, Patti Page, Dean Jagger, and John McIntire.
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Reviewed by lastliberal 9 / 10

Sin, sin, sin! You're all sinners! You're all doomed to perdition!

Based on the muckraker Sinclair Lewis' novel, and superbly translated to the screen by Richard Brooks (In Cold Blood , The Professionals, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), this story of huckster-ism by religion is a masterpiece.

Burt Lancaster player the greatest role of his career, getting his only Oscar for his performance. Lancaster, so good in such films as From Here to Eternity, Atlantic City, and Seven Days in May, was spellbinding as the salesman for God.

Shirley Jones (The Music Man, "The Patridge Family," was simply delicious as Gantry's first conquest, and now a "five-buck hooker," that he left behind: "Oh, he gave me special instructions back of the pulpit Christmas Eve. He got to howlin' "Repent! Repent!" and I got to moanin' "Save me! Save me!" and the first thing I know he rammed the fear of God into me so fast I never heard my old man's footsteps!" 1960 was a great year for movies, and this was certainly one of the best of that year, and one of the best of all time. If you want to see real acting, this film should be on your "must-see" list.

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