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Elmer Gantry

Play trailer Poster for Elmer Gantry 1960 2h 25m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When hedonistic but charming con man Elmer Gantry (Burt Lancaster) meets the beautiful Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons), 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 (Shirley Jones) decides that she has a score to settle with the charismatic performer.

Critics Reviews

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Dan Jardine Slant Magazine 08/06/2010
80/100
The film pulls few punches in its story of the hypocrisy, materialism, and opportunism at the heart of the evangelical world of Bible-thumping barnstorming revival troupes Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 04/08/2008
Brooks honors the spirit of Lewis' cynical commentary on circus-type primitive exhortation with pictorial imagery that is always pungent. He also has written dialog that is frank and biting. Go to Full Review
Kim Newman Empire Magazine 04/08/2008
4/5
This gets progressively nastier and winds up with an impressive hellfire finish. Go to Full Review
Gerri Major Jet Magazine 01/17/2024
The film does not attack the church; it exposes those who misuse religion for profit and turn the solemnity of our church service into a revival circus. The result of Brooks’ license with the novel is a motion picture that holds you spellbound. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia 11/14/2021
7/10
Every preached word that comes out of Lancaster's mouth elevates the film's dramatic potential and illuminates the scenes like a miracle fallen from heaven. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 11/07/2019
The title-role character, a preacher with a weakness for wild women and whisky, is more believable in scriptwriter-director Richard Brooks' film than he was in the Sinclair Lewis novel; the part is played with skill and gusto by Burt Lancaster. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Vitor O Mar 19 One of the most intelligent movies to be released on the first half of the 60's, Elmer Gantry is also incredibly entertaining throughout its 140' runtime (with great help by Burt Lancaster in the main role). See more Jeff S @jeffstone 03/09/2024 Burt Lancaster is spell-binding in this fascinating film that's often humorous, frequently insightful, and somehow manages to be incredibly poignant while it's being exploitive. Elmer Gantry illustrates that many of the most deleterious vices can seem anything but sinful. See more Alec B 02/20/2024 Often it appears to be engaging in the kind of hypocritical moralizing the movie is also condemning. That said Lancaster is completely captivating as is the rest of the cast. See more John H 02/13/2024 Amazing film about false worship but also faith See more Lequisha S 06/29/2022 [11/3/20]: [didn't officially rate it, putting 4.5*] "I genuinely loved it, had well-rounded characters. Liked that they condemned commercialization of religion and showmanship preaching instead of the entirety of organized religion. Very charismatic performance." See more 03/25/2022 Often it appears to be engaging in the kind of hypocritical moralizing the movie is also condemning. That said Lancaster is completely captivating as is the rest of the cast. See more Read all reviews
Elmer Gantry

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Movie Info

Synopsis When hedonistic but charming con man Elmer Gantry (Burt Lancaster) meets the beautiful Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons), 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 (Shirley Jones) decides that she has a score to settle with the charismatic performer.
Director
Richard Brooks
Screenwriter
Richard Brooks, Sinclair Lewis
Distributor
United Artists, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co
United Artists
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 7, 1960, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Runtime
2h 25m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, 1.66:1