Elmer gantry is a 1960 drama film about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to smalltown america. He could make good morning seem profound as kant, welcoming as a brass band, and uplifting as a cathedral organ. Elmer starts his career as a baptist and then joins up with a charismatic but equally unprincipled female revivalist preacher. In my copy of elmer gantry, one sentence is underlined six times. Approx running time 2 hrs 27 min, color, not rated. In 1960, a film version of elmer gantry was made, with burt lancaster, in the title role, winning an oscar for best actor. If there was a dollar to be made gantry would make it. Joining forces with sister sharon falconer, he delivers demonbashing oratories that bring him fame and fortune. The movie presents fewer than 100 pages of the novel, deleting many characters and fundamentally changing the character and. He never said anything important, and he always said it sonorously.
That sums up sinclair lewis 1927 satire of scandalous fundamentalist ministers pretty well. Discussion of themes and motifs in sinclair lewis elmer gantry. Elmer gantry, american film drama, released in 1960, that was an adaptation of sinclair lewiss novel of the same name and featured academy awardwinning performances by burt lancaster and shirley jones. Im not givin the plot away,well theres not much plot just. Elmer gantry was made into a lively and impressive film in 1960 starring burt lancaster in a hellraising performance, and it was one of my dads alltime favorite movies. Elmer gantry is a flawed film, but im glad i saw it because it explores some interesting themes. If you follow closely, you see elmer grab the ladys shoulders, then you see elmer holding a blue jacket in flames, while the lady is still standing behind him with a.
Released august 21st, 1997, elmer gantry stars burt lancaster, jean simmons, dean jagger, shirley jones the movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 25 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. Thanks to gantrys enthusiastic hellfireandbrimstone sermons, sister sharons operation rises to fame and fortune, enough so that sharon realizes her dream of building her. Elmer gantry stands as the final film credit for cinematographer john alton who won an oscar for an american in paris, but one gets the distinct impression this transfer doesnt accurately represent his work. When a salvation army worker enters, gantry shocks and moves the crowd with an impromptu, impassioned sermon equating god with love. Lancaster, burt, simmons, jean, jagger, dean, jones, shirley, kennedy, arthur, page, patti. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. He had, in fact, got everything from church and sunday school, except, perhaps, any longing whatever for decency and kindness and reason. A lady runs by elmer in a blue jacket, and her jacket is on fire. In many ways, of course, elmer is the worst of them all.
With burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy, dean jagger. At one point earlier in the film, she remembers how gantry had violated her when she was. He is immediately taken with sister sharon falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfire and damnation revivalism has attracted quite a following. But when an old flame reappears, gantry is forced to confront demons of a more worldly order. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of elmer gantry by sinclair lewis. Reviewed in the united kingdom on 6 june 20 verified purchase. If you follow closely, you see elmer grab the ladys shoulders, then you see elmer holding a blue jacket in flames, while the lady is still standing behind him with a blue jacket on. Gantry burt lancaster drops into the revival tent for his first experience of the phenomenal sister sharon falconer jean simmons in elmer gantry, 1960, from the sinclair lewis novel. Shirley jones oscar winning performance in elmer gantry. Feb 22, 2008 elmer gantry, the traveling evangelist who loved whiskey, women and wealth, was conceived by sinclair lewis in a bestselling 1927 novel and continues to resonate with modern audiences. Will try to buy elmer gantry dvd from another source.
I returned the dvd for a replacement which had similar problems, but at different points in the movie. Elmer gantry is a deep exploration of touring tent revivals that were a big thing years ago. Because i had come across the book, i wanted to see the film. Elmer gantry has even been made into a new opera, with a score by robert aldridge and a libretto by herschel garfein, that recently premiered in nashville. Want to watch elmer gantry in the comfort of your own home. Elmer gantry opens with a short shot of chapter 1 of the novel, im not sure if this implies a loyal reproduction, but since one of the criticisms i heard of this film is that it vulgarizes the. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster, jean. Elmer gantry is a fasttalking, harddrinking traveling salesman who always has a risque story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike. Elmer gantry 1960 is an entertaining melodrama with memorable performances, from writerdirector richard brooks. Elmer gantry 1960 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers. He is immediately taken with sister sharon falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfireanddamnation revivalism has attracted quite a following. Elmer gantry, american film drama, released in 1960, that was an.
Stars burt lancaster best actor, jean simmons, and shirley jones best supporting actress. Synopsis plot elmer gantry is a fast talking, hard drinking traveling salesman who always has a risque story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike. Ive always rated this movie and to capture yer imagination when yer about 12,it must be good. Elmer gantry burt lancaster, a drunken, dishonest street preacher allegedly patterned on billy sunday, wrangles a job with the travelling tent ministry conducted by sister sharon falconer jean. Elmer pulls the burning jacket off her, and beats out the flames. Elmer gantry was nominated for five oscars, and won for best actor, best supporting actress, and writing. Rodney dangerfield at his best on the tonight show starring johnny carson 1983 duration. Discovering a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the richard brooksdirected movie via subscription can be tricky, so. Elmer gantry is a 1960 film about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to small town america. Taken from the classic sinclair lewis novel of the same name, director richard brooks garnered an oscar for best screenplay for his adaptation, and burt lancaster won his sole best actor oscar for his performance. Elmer gantry 1997 stream and watch online moviefone. Published in 1926, elmer gantry is a classic fiction novel by sinclair lewis. Nov 16, 2009 elmer gantry skimmed video with audio quotes. Elmer gantry is a 1960 drama film about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to small town america.
Elmer gantry is a satirical novel written by sinclair lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the religious activity of america in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. Please click the link below to receive your verification email. Elmer gantry is an amazing film that does not seem dated at all, having lost none of its bite or appeal with the passing of time. Elmer gantry, a flawed preacher for the ages elmer gantry, the traveling evangelist who loved whiskey, women and wealth, was conceived by sinclair lewis in a bestselling 1927 novel and continues. Directed and written by richard brooks, based on the 1927 novel by sinclair lewis. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy, shirley jones and patti page elmer gantry was nominated for five academy awards in 1961, including best.
Gantry burt lancaster drops into the revival tent for his first experience of the phenomenal sister sharon falconer jean simmons in elmer gantry, 1960, from the sinclair lewis novel view the tcmdb entry for elmer gantry 1960. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy and shirley jones. Unfortunately, gantrys soul is less than clean and temptation hides around every corner. Elmer gantry burt lancaster, a drunken, dishonest street preacher allegedly patterned. Jim had a resolute tenor, and as to elmer gantry, even more than his bulk, his thick black hair, his venturesome black eyes, you remembered that arousing barytone. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
Elmer gantry burt lancaster, a drunken, dishonest street preacher allegedly patterned on billy sunday, wrangles a job with the travelling tent ministry conducted by sister sharon falconer jean simmons. Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money though he eventually renounces tobacco and alcohol and chasing women. Elmer gantry, whose gifts of persuasion might have been used to better purpose, was born to be a senator, we learn on the novels first page. A fasttalking traveling salesman with a charming, loquacious manner convinces a sincere evangelist that he can be an effective preacher for her cause. Elmer gantry 1960 is an entertaining melodrama with memorable.
Sister sharon is left to walk about the fiery inferno of her newly built church, while everyone around her is knocking. Oct 08, 2012 shirley jones oscar winning performance in elmer gantry. After collecting money from the patrons, gantry takes a drunken barfly back to his hotel room. Set in the 1920s, the novel is a satire of american religious attitudes at the time. Met burt lancaster, jean simmons en arthur kennedy. The two make a successful onstage pair, and their chemistry extends to romance. In the 1920s, elmer gantry entertains a group of fellow salesmen in a speakeasy with his ribald jokes and easy charm. Elmer gantry, is initially attracted by booze and easy money though he eventually. Elmer and jim lefferts retired to a table to nourish the long, rich, chocolate strains suitable to drunken melody. Elmer gantry is a 1960 american drama film about a con man and a female evangelist selling religion to smalltown america. Its interesting that the film takes us on this journey with a man who is deeply flawed. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel of the same name by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster, jean simmons, arthur kennedy, shirley jones and patti page.
Click download or read online button to get elmer gantry book now. A con man burt lancaster joins an evangelist sister jean simmons in the 1920s midwest. When hedonistic but charming con man elmer gantry burt lancaster meets the beautiful sister sharon falconer jean simmons, a roadside revivalist, he feigns piousness to join her act as a passionate preacher. Performancethe crucial skill of the title character in sinclair lewiss satirical novel elmer gantryis at the heart of its film adaptation, which remains today less a coherent adaptation. Lancaster portrayed the title character, a charlatan evangelist who joins a ministry headed by. Good video quality,however the audio turned off intermittently, greatly reducing the enjoyment of watching. As a result, elmer gantry marked the only purely dramatic role in her feature film career. A traveling salesman with a flair for words, elmer gantry believes hes just the right preacherhuckster to aid a fledgling evangelist named sister sharon falconer in her crusade to save souls.
It tells the story of a hypocritical, corrupt, but very successful preacher named elmer gantry. Brooks shot the film in the then rarely used, classic aspect ratio of 1. Elmer gantry dvd, 2001, vintage classics for sale online. It is the controversial telling of sinclair lewis 1927 muckraker novel regarding the charismatically engaging, but scandalous midwestern salesman turned preacher in the 1920s. A full restoration would undoubtedly bring out the hues age has ravaged and clean up the marks that intermittently mar the frame. He is immediately taken with sister sharon falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfire. His portrayal of elmer might have been improved without that forced laugh he used in trying to portray an uncouth laugh. Elmer gantry download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In addition, a plot point from the end of the novel is incorporated into gantrys and lulu bainss relationship, fundamentally changing the. Adapted by director richard brooks, the film is based on the 1927 novel by sinclair lewis and stars burt lancaster and jean simmons. Burt lancaster was never one of my favorite actors. Sinclair lewiss elmer gantry new york, 1927 is a ferocious satire against protestant fundamentalist religion in the american midwest. Kino lorbers bluray release of elmer gantry contains only a brief interview with shirley jones along with the film s theatrical trailer, though it. One admirable character, frank shallard, makes an essentially quixotic response to elmer and his deceits.
980 348 70 1006 221 306 286 117 1436 1260 100 952 1071 159 177 1388 298 1557 471 359 1247 140 1125 332 619 556 1316