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Elmer Gantry (1960)

TV_PG 146 min  -  Drama  -   July 1960 (USA)
7.8
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Ratings: 7.8/10 from 5,000 users  
Reviews: 64 user | 27 critic

Elmer Gantry is a fast talking, hard drinking traveling salesman who always has a risqué story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Richard Brooks (screenplay), Sinclair Lewis (novel)
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Won 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 10 nominations See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster ...
Jean Simmons ...
Arthur Kennedy ...
Jim Lefferts
Dean Jagger Dean Jagger ...
William L. Morgan
Shirley Jones ...
Patti Page ...
Sister Rachel
Edward Andrews Edward Andrews ...
George F. Babbitt (as Ed Andrews)
John McIntire ...
Rev. John Pengilly
Hugh Marlowe Hugh Marlowe ...
Rev. Philip Garrison
Joe Maross Joe Maross ...
Pete
Philip Ober Philip Ober ...
Rev. Planck
Barry Kelley Barry Kelley ...
Police Capt. Holt
Wendell Holmes Wendell Holmes ...
Rev. Ulrich
Dayton Lummis Dayton Lummis ...
Eddington
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Storyline

Elmer Gantry is a fast talking, hard drinking traveling salesman who always has a risqué story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike. He is immediately taken with Sister Sharon Falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfire and damnation revivalism has attracted quite a following. Gantry uses his own quick wit and knowledge of the bible to become an indispensable part of Sister Sharon's roadshow but soon finds that his past catches up with him in the form of Lulu Bains, now a prostitute. While Gantry seeks and eventually gets forgiveness from Sharon, tragedy strikes when she finally manages to get out of her revivalist tent and opens a permanent church. Written by garykmcd  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Religion | Preacher | Church | Revivalism | 1920s  | See more »

Taglines:

"You're all sinners... You'll all burn in hell!" See more »

Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Elmer Gantry, le charlatan See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)
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Company Credits

Production Co:

Elmer Gantry Productions See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastman Color)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Sister Sharon is seen briefly outside a movie theater advertising a film. The title is not given but the stars names are given as Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres, suggesting that the film is almost certainly The Sheik. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: The movie is supposed to take place in 1927. When Lulu is waiting for Elmer, she switches on a small electric bakelite radio on the dresser. In 1927 there were no electric radios, only large wood battery operated radios. The small radio she switches on is from around 1938-1940. See more »

Quotes

George Babbitt: Besides, I'm for a free press, for free enterprise... and for whatever the hell the other freedoms are!
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Crazy Credits

Scrolled before the opening credits:
"We believe that certain aspects of Revivalism can bear examination- that the conduct of some revivalists makes a mockery of the traditional beliefs and practices of organized Christianity!
We believe that everyone has a right to worship according to his conscience, but- Freedom of Religion is not license to abuse the faith of the people!
However, due to the highly controversial nature of this film, we strongly urge you to prevent impressionable children from seeing it!" See more »

Connections

Referenced in Fletch Lives (1989) See more »

Soundtracks

"Shall We Gather at the River"
(1864) (uncredited)
Written by Robert Lowry
Sung by the audience at a revival meeting
Reprised at a train station See more »