Movie Review - Elmer Gantry (1960)

ELMER GANTRY is one hopping good story of a fast talking appliance salesman from the Bible Belt who, back in the days of the Prohibition and Speak-Easies, cons his way up the steps of success and transforms into a fiery preacher who can agitate the masses in every direction he wants.

He builds up a considerable following in Zenith, Kansas as the eager sidekick of Sharon Falconer, an evangelist who has more truth in her soul than Elmer. Gantry milks the whole enterprise for whatever its worth until the tragic ending when the transformation of this super huckster emerges as the principle character arc of the whole plot.

Adapted from Sinclair Lewis's book by the same title, director Richard Brooks created a classic indictment of those revivalists who manipulate the masses for their own ends by using the Jesus's message of love as a shield and subterfuge.

The movie was nominated for 5 Oscars in 1961 won 3 of them