Have You Solved the Cinematic Puzzle of Elmer Gantry Movie? Can You Handle the Shocking Truth?

Burt Lancaster as Elmer Gantry
Jean Simmons as Sister Sharon Falconer
Arthur Kennedy as Jim Lefferts
Dean Jagger as William L. Morgan
Shirley Jones as Lulu Bains
Patti Page as Sister Rachel
Edward Andrews as George F. Babbitt
John McIntire as Rev. John Pengilly
Hugh Marlowe as Rev. Philip Garrison
Joe Maross as Pete
Philip Ober as Rev. Planck
Barry Kelley as Police Capt. Holt
Wendell Holmes as Rev. Ulrich
Dayton Lummis as Eddington
Harry Antrim as Salesman in Saloon
Larry J. Blake as Mac - Bartender
Phil Bloom as Cornerman
Paul Bradley as Congregation Member
Peter Brocco as Benny - Photographer
Claudia Bryar as Religious woman collecting money in opening scene
Budd Buster as Valet
Mushy Callahan as Boxing Match Spectator
George Cisar as Salesman in Saloon
Bing Conley as Man Destroying Revival Tent
Tony Dante as Congregation Member
George DeNormand as Congregation Member
Ralph Dumke as Salesman in Saloon
George Ford as Reporter
Sally Fraser as Prostitute
Raoul Freeman as Congregation Member
Richard George as Wounded Survivor of Fire on Pier
Everett Glass as Rev. Brown
Joseph Glick as Congregation Member
Sol Gorss as Hobo in Boxcar
Mary Adams Hayes as Salvation Army Worker
Jack Henderson as Man Destroying Revival Tent
Jimmie Horan as Choir Member
Charles Horvath as Hobo in Boxcar
Rex Ingram as Preacher of Black Congregation
Colin Kenny as Extra at Revival Meeting
Johnny Kern as Boxing Match Spectator
Mike Lally as Radio Station Official
Joanna Lancaster as Child in Audience
Sighle Lancaster as Child in Audience
Norman Leavitt as Salesman in Saloon
Robert P. Lieb as Lincoln Police Captain
BarBara Luna as Prostitute
John Marlin as Boxing Match Spectator
Mathew McCue as Reporter
John McKee as Photographer
David McMahon as
William Meader as Congregation Member
Charles Morton as Man Destroying Revival Tent
Ed Nelson as Man on Phone at Sister Sharon Headquarters
William H. O'Brien as Train Conductor
Gloria Pall as Girl in Brothel
Milton Parsons as Revivalist
Bob Perry as Boxing Match Spectator
Jack Perry as Man at Revival Meeting
Paul Power as Congregation Member
John Qualen as Sam - Storekeeper
Jean Ransome as Congregation Member
John Rice as Congregation Member
Dan Riss as Radio Announcer
John Roy as Choir Member
Max Showalter as Deaf Man
Leslie Sketchley as Choir Member
Mabel Smaney as Congregation Member
Marjorie Stapp as Lady in Red on Christmas Eve
Bert Stevens as Choir Member
Jack Stoney as Revival Tent Roustabout
Ken Terrell as Blind Man
Blaine Turner as Congregation Member
Dale Van Sickel as Salesman in Saloon
Ray Walker as Salesman in Saloon
Michael Whalen as Rev. Phillips
Guy Wilkerson as Janitor in Revival Tent
Jean Willes as Prostitute
Music by the great Kevin MacLeod

[@angeleno12]

As splendid as the movie is, Sinclair Lewis's novel is even better, if for no other reason than that it's longer. The plot of the film is only a part of the novel--a third, maybe?--so in the book you get a lot more of Elmer, both before and after Sharon. My advice: read the book and see the movie, or vice versa. They're both huge favorites of mine.

[@janicebrowningaquino792]

Yes. Commentary on today’s issues. The use of religion in politics that negatively affect thousands based on the control issues of the few.

[@original1951]

Elmer Gantry . The best movie ever not shown on television anymore. !

[@gunner678]

Superb movie, ' I have been saved by both the bottle and the pulpit, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed both'. I am a priest and I have often used this movie in my sermons.

[@johnbrowne2170]

Should use the movie Spotlight in your sermons.

[@gunner678]

@@johnbrowne2170 and Doubt, both relevant resources to help safeguard the vulnerable and identify the criminals who prey on them.

[@nialloneill5097]

You're on your wayyyyyyyy

[@bronxboy47]

Up to the moment she made "Elmer Gantry", Shirley Jones had been Hollywood's "good little girl", virginal and sweet. She shocked everyone with the character she played in "Elmer Gantry".

[@nialloneill5097]

It was a big shock to the congregation in the film too...most unholy

[@valkyriesardo278]

What I enjoyed most about this film is that it provided such a good vehicle to showcase the two lead actors. Both are intensely charismatic and they were in the prime of their glory. The story itself was incidental. Charlatans are nothing new.

[@williambabbitt7602]

You are right it is a superb movie! However, the narrator of this little clip has gotten it wrong. He did not start out as a salesman who find his calling in the ministry. He was a ministerial student who fell in love, and had an illicit relationship with the deans daughter Played by Shirley Jones. After that they were both disowned. that’s when Kathy became the salesman. Some of the best of evangelist I’ve ever known were good salesman as well! That is not a slam against either profession.

[@nialloneill5097]

Eloquence can be found among different vocations, but it is only truly inspiring and genuinely uplifting when authentic...for no matter how great a salesman makes his pitch...you just know it's spin...and it is therefore, ultimately...meaningless!

[@michaelrobison7559]

It’s also the premise of the zombies who support 🤡

[@nialloneill5097]

I had an epiphany of sorts...and a cut from the film came up on You Tube...with the title...'I'm on my Way'...I sang it fir years, and still do from time to time. The clip begins as he walks upon a rail track, he hears music, music to his ears...for it is the Call of the Lord once again beckoning upon his soul...he stops, looks...and follows the music...and then enters an all black congregation who fall almost into silence when he walks in...but just as all seems lost...he begins to sing...he knows the words...and the church-goers join him...they are on their way...the prodigal son has returned to the fold...once again...THEN, there is a clip of the end of the film, as he sings the same song...to initiate a chorus of I'm on my ways...to inspire the grieving church people...then he is asked what he will do now...he stops, walks to one of the Church leaders and quotes Corinthians 13...“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things....he then walks away into the sunset...done with the church forever...he was on his way!

[@patrickburns1408]

My grandmother loved when he said "Mother's apple pie"

[@p1dru2art]

Can you say protagonist