Burt Lancaster as main character Elmer Gantry initially drew my attention to this film along with its history of award wins and adolation amongst many cinephiles.
In a nutshell the film is based on the character Elmer Gantry, a salesman with the gift of the gab somewhat who teams up with a church preacher but who's chequered history catches up with him.
So the film is set in 1920s USA with evangelists travelling across the bible belt of the country spreading their church messages whilst also attempting to increase attendances to their churches and at the same time raise funds.
We are introduced to a charismatic salesman, hard drinking with a chequered past that includes ditching a character Lulu who turns to prostitution.
The performance of Burt Lancaster which won him an Academy Award is the main highlight of film. His eulogies, preaching, and general demeanour as the sinner with a dodgy past who becomes a preacher double act with a travelling revivalist Sister is captivating. Especially when his past is briefly revealed in a newspaper sting.
For the first half an hour or so I felt what was I watching. By the end my thoughts on the film had changed two fold as I was drawn in like a member of the audience at one of the meetings!
I've watched several of Lancaster's films and this rates highly among them.
In a nutshell the film is based on the character Elmer Gantry, a salesman with the gift of the gab somewhat who teams up with a church preacher but who's chequered history catches up with him.
So the film is set in 1920s USA with evangelists travelling across the bible belt of the country spreading their church messages whilst also attempting to increase attendances to their churches and at the same time raise funds.
We are introduced to a charismatic salesman, hard drinking with a chequered past that includes ditching a character Lulu who turns to prostitution.
The performance of Burt Lancaster which won him an Academy Award is the main highlight of film. His eulogies, preaching, and general demeanour as the sinner with a dodgy past who becomes a preacher double act with a travelling revivalist Sister is captivating. Especially when his past is briefly revealed in a newspaper sting.
For the first half an hour or so I felt what was I watching. By the end my thoughts on the film had changed two fold as I was drawn in like a member of the audience at one of the meetings!
I've watched several of Lancaster's films and this rates highly among them.