Inclubabu Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

RuthlessGoat In many ways, this movie is the ultimate Sales movie in that it perfectly incorporates the idea that Sales and Jesus are inextricably joined at the hip. Have you made your decision for CHRIST! was bellowed by the terrifying Alec Baldwin, but no one joins Sales and The Lord better than Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry. Elmer is a traveling Salesman, a con man, drunkard and a bum, but this guy could sell a ticket to the slaughterhouse to a suckling pig, make that a seasons pass, he was that good.The history behind this blockbuster of a film is fascinating. Sinclair Lewis had a difficult time selling his novel in his time period, but the finished product finally surfaces in 1960, much to the consternation of conservative Bible-Thumpers and Women's Temperance fanatics. There were warnings to keep the children away, but why? I'll tell you why. One of the points made by the movie was the possibility that there just might not be a God! Imagine that! The book was banned in The South (where else?) but this magnificent work finally saw the light of day and a giant of a film was produced.Elmer Gantry is smitten by Sister Sharon Falconer, and she by him, so they join forces to save the world, in spite of the ones around them who suspect this unholy alliance. Jim Lefferts, played by Jack Kennedy is a skeptical and cynical newspaper reporter who identifies Elmer immediately as the fraud that he is. In spite of this conflict, the two have a respect and alliance, they both know what they are, without pretense and the mutual respect is there. Overshadowed by the great Burt Lancaster's performance, Kennedy brilliantly plays the part of a newsman who is an obvious atheist and there just weren't many atheists in Mid-America those days.The essence of this movie must involve the Oscar winning performance of the star, Burt Lancaster. There was much lamenting that Jean Simmons was robbed of an Oscar, but Burt Lancaster was not to be denied his earned gold for a sizzling performance. Lancaster is a grinning physical specimen and he manifests this greatness as he hypnotizes and sells the gullible masses under the tents in the American Midwest. He was born for this role and exhibits his mannerisms and charm with maximum efficiency.The movies end was lame and inexplicable considering the body of work that surrounded it, but all is forgiven with every minute of Lancaster's landmark performance as one of the greatest Salesmen ever.

gavin6942 A fast-talking traveling salesman (Burt Lancaster) with a charming, loquacious manner convinces a sincere evangelist (Shirley Jones) that he can be an effective preacher for her cause."Elmer Gantry" was nominated for five Academy Awards in 1961, including for Best Picture and Best Score, winning the other three; Best Actor for Lancaster, Best Supporting Actress for Jones, and Best Adapted Screenplay. This seems very appropriate. Lancaster is at his finest here, Jones is excellent, and the script is wonderful. I have not read the book, but now I sort of want to.What is the message? Are we to be critical of religion? Or just certain types? Or is that not what they are getting at? I guess it's hard to really judge the sincerity of Gantry, and even more difficult to judge the sincerity of Falconer. She is supposed to be the good one, but clearly is capable of lying if it helps her out.

campbell-russell-a The exchanges between Elmer Gantry as played by Burt Lancaster and Jim Lefferts played by Arthur Kennedy is the what brings me back to this film time and again. They are pitted as enemies yet they understand each other as no other character in the film can. With a wry smile, Kennedy displays a grudging respect for Elmer's ability to manipulate crowds and twist logic to suit his purpose. "Jim Lefferts is an honorable man. But so was Brutus. And we all know that Brutus was an anarchistic, alcoholic assassin!" How can you argue with someone who is prepared to use such outrageous tactics? But it is when Elmer uses Jim's innate honesty to trap him into admitting his agnosticism that turns black comedy into a dramatic poignancy. "Do you believe Jesus Christ can give us life everlasting?" asks Elmer. "I'd love to believe it," replies Jim. The depth Kennedy brings to this line is moving beyond words but Elmer, rather than being moved, presses his advantage to assert that Jim's "confessed bigotry" has led to his attack upon Sister Sharon bringing revivalism to the town of Zenith. After Elmer destroys Jim with his street-fighter use of indefensible insinuation and blackmail, he declares he bares Jim "no malice". His outrageousness is so blatant that there is nothing Jim can do but raise his glass to Elmer.There are many other memorable moments in the film but two stand out for me. Elmer when on a crusade against sin dramatically orders the chief of police to "break down that speakeasy door" to which the chief replies in a bemused tone "Just knock. They'll open up".The other is when Elmer goes on his way at the end of the film. Jim's respect is again tweaked as Elmer absolves the crowd who beg him to forgive them for having ran instead of standing by Sister Sharon as she and her church burnt the night before. "That was inspired, " claims Bill Morgan, the ardent believer. 'Jim boy, do believe it was inspired? " Elmer asks Lefferts. "I think it was real friendly," Jim replies. He admires Elmer's humanity and sensitivity towards others because it is not just for show. Ultimately, Jim is moved by Elmer's honesty. "You really do believe in the Lord, don't you." Jim says this to Elmer not as a question but as a gesture of good will towards his greatest adversary and confidante.Elmer is an honest hypocrite and Jim can't help but like him.

lynnfriedman We love retro fashion and design because there's beauty and a touch of irony in nostalgic simplicity. If I want a mindless good time in film land, there's nothing like a trip to the past that never existed. I'm thinking of Doris Day singing over daisies and the like. But wait, there's more ladies, I bring you Elmer Gantry, circa 1960. This film really breaks the mold, I mean not moldy at all, in fact disturbingly current in it's profile of a man living by his wits alone who scores big time when he discovers the path to success through exploiting the town folks religious beliefs.Elmer Gantry is a shady traveling salesman who happens upon a revival meeting. When he sees the beautiful evangelist Sister Sharon Falconer filling the tent up with paying sinners, a light bulb goes off. Forget farm tools, religion is the plastics of 1920′s America. There's a point where you start to believe that Elmer will go straight. Alas, he can't escape his womanizing past with the reappearance of Lulu Baines, the bawdy bad girl he can't forget.There's so much going on here. Elmer Gantry was based on a novel by Sinclair Louis. We've got Shirley Jones in her Oscar winning role as Lulu Baines. Yes, that Shirley, the Partridge Family mom. Remember now, it's 1960 and Lulu describes a scene saying, "he rammed the fear of God into me so fast I never heard my old man's footsteps." Oh yeah, and "you're amusing and you smell like a real man"