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Elmer Gantry

Play trailer Poster for Elmer Gantry Released Jul 7, 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.
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Elmer Gantry

Critics Reviews

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Dan Jardine Slant Magazine 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 Rated: 80/100 Aug 6, 2010 Full Review Variety Staff Variety 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. Apr 8, 2008 Full Review Kim Newman Empire Magazine This gets progressively nastier and winds up with an impressive hellfire finish. Rated: 4/5 Apr 8, 2008 Full Review Gerri Major Jet Magazine 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. Jan 17, 2024 Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 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] Rated: 7/10 Nov 14, 2021 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 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. Nov 7, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Vitor O 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). Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/19/25 Full Review Jeff S 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. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/09/24 Full Review Alec B 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review John H Amazing film about false worship but also faith Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/24 Full Review Lequisha S [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." Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/29/22 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Elmer Gantry

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Brooks

Director

Burt Lancaster

Elmer Gantry

Jean Simmons

Sister Sharon Falconer

Dean Jagger

William L. Morgan

Shirley Jones

Lulu Bains

Arthur Kennedy

Jim Lefferts

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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
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