The World's Greatest Sinner (1962)

Director:

Timothy Carey

Writer:

Timothy Carey (written by)

Release Date:

June 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A bored insurance salesman quits his job to go into politics. He first starts preaching about how man...

Plot Keywords:

Politics | Salesman | Insurance | Political Party | Insurance Agent

Cast

Timothy Carey	...	Clarence Hilliard
Gil Barreto	...	Alonzo (as Gil Baretto)
Betty Rowland	...	Edna Hilliard
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)
Duana Dedda	...	Follower
Doris Carey	...	Follower
Victor Floming	...	Office Boss
Jerry Mobley	...	Follower
George Seemer	...	Follower
Ann Josephs	...	Secretary
Eleanor Enderle	...	Follower
Jenny Sanches	...	Old Lady in Church
Ben Avila	...	Follower
Gene Pollock	...	Priest
Joe Powell	...	Follower
Bob Divorsney	...	Follower
Victor Cory	...	Follower
Whitey Jent	...	Guitar Player
Don Mozee	...	Follower
Paul Frees	...	Narrator (voice)

Directed by
Timothy Carey

Writing credits
Timothy Carey		(written by)

Produced by
George E. Carey	....	assistant producer (as George F. Carey)
Timothy Carey	....	producer
Anthony M. Lanza	....	assistant producer
George E. Nahas	....	assistant producer
Titus Moede	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Frank Zappa		(as Zappa)

Cinematography by
Frank Grande
Robert Shelfow
Ray Dennis Steckler		(as Raymond Steckler)
Edgar G. Ulmer		(as Ove H. Sehested)

Film Editing by
Carl Mahakian
Lee Strosnider		(uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Jordan	....	assistant director
Gene Koziol	....	assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Rick Dennis	....	lighting (as Richard Kozlowski)
Roger Kimber	....	lighting
Frank Nappi	....	lighting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alberts	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Fred Graff	....	conductor

Production Companies

• Frenzy Productions

Distributors

• Frenzy Productions (1962) (worldwide) (all media)
• Absolute Films (2004) (worldwide) (all media) (as Absolute Films.Net)
• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) (2008) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Wardrobe by Alberts  costumes

Runtime:

82 min | USA:77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

El Monte, California, USA

Company:

Frenzy Productions

Trivia:

Composer Frank Zappa plugged this film during a "musical bicycle" demonstration on the Steve Allen Show in 1963.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: When Clarence tries to learn to play the guitar (about 13 minutes into the movie).

Quotes:

Clarence Hilliard:Let's be different. Let's not hate anyone.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The New Steve Allen Show: Episode dated 27 March 1963" (1963)

Soundtrack:

World's Greatest Sinner

A Stunning Wild Masterpiece Rarely Seen

Recently I had the privilege of viewing a poor quality bootleg videotape of this film. Boy, was I in for a surprise.

For starters, I'm not one to typically enjoy cult classics or films that are in the "so-bad-they-are-good category." My initial attraction to this film was based on one thing - Timothy Carey.

I first learned of Timothy Carey when I purchased a Stanley Kubrick DVD of "The Killing". Carey has a small but important role in this film, and the minute he first appeared on screen I knew there was something special about this guy. There was a magnetic bizarreness to him that simply transcended the role. The character he played didn't have to be creepy, but Carey _was_ creepy. The weird way he looked with his eyes almost always at half mast, the way he spoke with his peculiar voice and heavy New York accent, and his unconventional looks (like a bizarro version of John Turturro) all worked together to really pique my curiosity about him.

Well, onto the Internet I went. I found out more about him. He made a living generally playing seedy characters in supporting roles in all movies he appeared in, except for one. "The World's Greatest Sinner" would be not only his sole staring role, but also the only movie he wrote, produced, and directed. And never released.

Once I got a chance to watch the bootleg, I could see why it never received a proper release in its day.

Carey plays an insurance salesman that is seemingly depressed and bored with his job and life and decides to change. He gets inspired by rock-n-roll, becomes a rock star of sorts, a preacher, a politician, and finally sells himself as God to his cult of followers.

This movie has some pretty dark humor, at least one shocking scene (even by today's standards, never mind 1962), and takes some potshots at organized religion.

Maybe the thing that struck my the most about this movie is it's vitality. It feels fresh, which is so different than how many older movies hold up. This is because this film was and continues to be so far ahead of its time.

If you are a fan of cult movies, I urge you to track this film down. If you are a fan of offbeat actors, ala Dennis Hopper, Crispin Glover, etc., I urge you to track this film down.

It certainly is a sin that this wonderful movie is not available through normal channels.