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Elmer Gantry

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7.3/10 • 173

1960-07-072h 26m

Drama

If there was a dollar to be made—Gantry would make it … If there was a soul to be saved—Gantry would save it …

When hedonistic but charming con man Elmer Gantry meets the beautiful Sister Sharon Falconer, a roadside revivalist, he feigns piousness to join her act as a passionate preacher. The two make a successful onstage pair, and their chemistry extends to romance. Both the show and their relationship are threatened, however, when one of Gantry's ex-lovers decides that she has a score to settle with the charismatic performer.

Directors
Richard Brooks
Editors
Marjorie Fowler

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Burt Lancaster

    Burt Lancaster

    Elmer Gantry

  2. Jean Simmons

    Jean Simmons

    Sister Sharon Falconer

  3. Arthur Kennedy

    Arthur Kennedy

    Jim Lefferts

  4. Dean Jagger

    Dean Jagger

    William L. Morgan

  5. Shirley Jones

    Shirley Jones

    Lulu Bains

  6. Patti Page

    Patti Page

    Sister Rachel

  7. Edward Andrews

    Edward Andrews

    George F. Babbitt

  8. John McIntire

    John McIntire

    Rev. John Pengilly

  9. Hugh Marlowe

    Hugh Marlowe

    Rev. Philip Garrison

Reviews2

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jan 27, 2024

7/10

Burt Lancaster is on great form here as the eponymous quick-talking and charismatic hoover salesman who alights upon the successful industry that is "Sister Sharon" (Jean Simmons). She preaches the word of God with a piousness that he finds compelling. Not because he shares her zeal, but because he can see the impact it has on the rather sheepish population who turn up at her prayer meetings in their thousands - and donate for the work of the Lord in just as generous a fashion. Initially, the Sister is sceptical but she underestimates his charms and his persevering nature. He, too, does some underestimating of his own and pretty swiftly they are a formidable team of evangelising fund-raisers. He has his detractors, though - not least his jilted lover "Lulu" (Shirley Jones) who resents his new found success and happiness, and so determines to ruin it all for him. Question is - is "Gantry" really a changed man, or is it all just a façade? There's oodles of chemistry on display here between Simmons and an entirely convincing Lancaster that mixes religion, affection and plenty of wry humour as the two play a cat and mouse game that you just know how is going to end up. The writing is pithy and lively allowing these two, as well as Arthur Kennedy and Dean Jagger to deliver meaningfully to this story of indoctrination - but by whom and into what? We used to have a Church of Scotland minister when I was young that I thought was a bit puritanical in his sermon delivery - I suspect he might have watched this!

Media

  • Elmer Gantry backdrop
  • Elmer Gantry backdrop
  • Elmer Gantry backdrop
  • Elmer Gantry backdrop
  • Elmer Gantry backdrop
  • Elmer Gantry backdrop
  • Elmer Gantry backdrop

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$3,000,000.00
Revenue
$10,400,000.00
Keywords
based on novel or bookcon manfraudkansas, usareligionpreacherreligious hypocrisytraveling salesmanevangelistrevivalism