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Movies / On DVD / Elmer Gantry
Elmer Gantry

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Elmer Gantry (1960)

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Reviews Counted:25

Fresh:24

Rotten:1

Average Rating:7.8/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 27 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Elmer Gantry is a charming, fast-talking con, working the road as a traveling salesman in the 1920s. Burt Lancaster stars as the elusive Gantry in this charismatic adaptation of Sinclair Lewis's... Elmer Gantry is a charming, fast-talking con, working the road as a traveling salesman in the 1920s. Burt Lancaster stars as the elusive Gantry in this charismatic adaptation of Sinclair Lewis's 1927 novel. When Gantry runs across a group of traveling evangelists, he charms their saintly leader, Sister Susan Falconer (Jean Simmons), and becomes her partner, preaching fire and brimstone in the packed revival tents of the hardened Midwest. Gantry's robust style and Falconer's Joan of Arc-like spirit skyrocket the two minstrels to fame and fortune as they travel with their flock waging war on sinners and speakeasies--until they preach in a big city and catch the eye of a tough prostitute (Shirley Jones) who knows that Elmer is not quite as holy as he appears. This biting portrait of the business of religion was highly innovative at the time of its release, casting a slightly tarnished light on the hustle and theatrics of traveling ministries, while analyzing the true nature of faith and redemption. Lancaster's performance as the salesman turned preacher is dynamic and highly charismatic, full of energy and robust flair. [More]

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Dean Jagger, Arthur Kennedy

Starring: Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Dean Jagger, Arthur Kennedy, Shirley Jones, Patti Page, Edward Andrews, John McIntire, Andre Previn

Director: Richard Brooks

Director: Richard Brooks
Producer: Bernard Smith
Screenwriter: Richard Brooks

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Elmer Gantry

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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This gets progressively nastier and winds up with an impressive hellfire finish.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/08/08
Kim Newman
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

With a host of fine performances, and a strong sense of period and place conveyed by John Alton's lush camerawork, there's still plenty to enjoy.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Lancaster puts in a thrilling, Oscar-winning performance in this cynical satire on religious evangelism which was considered extremely controversial at the time of its release.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
03/16/04
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Lancaster pulls out all the stops in one of his most memorable roles as the lustful, ambitious charlatan of Sinclair Lewis's powerful novel.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
04/08/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
04/08/08
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Brooks was the ultimate vulgarizer of serious literature.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 2 Comments
04/08/08
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

Burt Lancaster gives one of his most memorable and zestiest performances as the lustful, charismatic evangelist charlatan in Richard Brooks' loose adaptation of Sinclair Lewis 1927 powerful novel.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
11/06/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

No review available.

comment Comment
02/25/05
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Hypocrisy and religion exploited! Lancaster and Shirley Jones are terrific.

comment Comment
10/15/04
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan

No review available.

comment Comment
10/10/04
Matt Bailey
Matt Bailey
Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Still powerful expose of evangelism.

comment Comment
07/19/04
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

(No quote available.)

comment Comment
01/30/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
09/11/03
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
06/11/03
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

The briskly paced drama of a religious opportunist, his colleagues and his times utilizes the tools of the motion picture in expert fashion.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
A.H. Weiler
A.H. Weiler
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
04/04/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Lancaster and Simmons are scorching as the con artist and the evangelist who join forces in the 1920s Midwest.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

No review available.

comment Comment
01/07/03
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
 
 
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