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IMDb > The World's Greatest Sinner (1962)

The World's Greatest Sinner (1962) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   340 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Timothy Carey (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The World's Greatest Sinner on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
June 1962 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
A bored insurance salesman quits his job to go into politics. He first starts preaching about how man... more | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
American Director Steckler Dies
 (From WENN. 1 February 2009, 3:15 PM, PST)

User Comments:
The World's Greatest Under-Appreciated Actor more (13 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Timothy Carey ... Clarence Hilliard
Gil Barreto ... Alonzo (as Gil Baretto)
James Farley ... The Devil
Gail Griffin ... Betty Hilliard (as Gail Griffen)
Tyde Rule ... Follower
Gene Koziol ... Follower
Dana Madison ... Follower
Gitta Maynard ... Elderly Woman

Titus Moede ... Follower
Betty Sturm ... Follower
Marty Prisco ... Follower
Grace De Carolis ... Mother
Carolina Samario ... Nate
George E. Carey ... Follower (as George F. Carey)
Doris Carey ... Follower
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Additional Details

Runtime:
82 min | USA:77 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Black and White | Color (Technicolor)
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Goofs:
Boom mic visible: When Clarence/God destroys his guitar (after 39 min). more
Quotes:
Clarence Hilliard: Let's be different. Let's not hate anyone. more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

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7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
The World's Greatest Under-Appreciated Actor, 30 July 2008
9/10
Author: ElijahCSkuggs from Happy Land, who lives in a Gumdrop House on Lolly Pop Lane

Recommended to me by a complete and utter "World's Greatest Sinner" fanboy, I decided I should check it out. He said something like, "If you're a fan of insane acting performances you will not be let down." Hell, I love insane acting performances! Probably more than the next guy. F that, way more than the next guy! So, the WGS Fanboy, or he may be a Timothy Carey fanboy....anyways, WGS/Tim Carey fanboy called me out pretty much. So, the next chance I had, I popped on The World's Greatest Sinner. And I'll tell you what, it was most definitely an insane acting performance. One so great, that it made the movie. It is the movie.

The film is simply about a tired Insurance Salesman who just doesn't want to do what he does anymore. He wants to be a somebody. And does he ever. He strives for power, and before he knows it, he has it. Watching Carey's character evolve from an everyday joe shmoe to uber-personality is basically the premise here.

The film itself is a smart flick. Some other comment said it was ahead of it's time, but it's not really that, but it's more of a timeless film. People don't change in the way Carey's character did in just one period. Carey's strive for power and attention is a trait humans have had and probably will have until we expire as a species.

I had no clue who Timothy Carey was prior to watching TWS. I heard he was a regular as a supporting character in a few Kubrick films. So, heading into this film, I didn't know what the dude even looked like. And boy oye oye, after seeing this film, I'll never forget. Timothy Carey is a tall, foreboding and masculine figure that delivers a style of acting which is just 100% unique. His tedious and realistic approach at acting is kinda bizarre to watch. But like I just said, it's unique. At times, with those sullen looking eyes and his relaxed way of talking, I almost thought he played his character drunk the entire film. But, when he has a scene where he needs to show emotion and energy, he's all over it. Simply put, if Carey didn't cast himself as the lead in his film (wrote, directed, acted etc.) this movie would have been in no way on Earth as entertaining.

The World's Greatest Sinner is only a fantastic movie, because at that time, The World's Greatest Under-appreciated Actor was in it. It's a film that's different, realistic and true to the bone. Definitely a flick I'll be recommending to my more accomplished movie-going friends.

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Carey's Religious Views? tarmcgator
HELLO, WORLD! ej-hughes
Who is Whitey Jent? bobquack
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