ELMER GANTRY

Nowadays this 1960 drama is all but forgotten, which is a shame all things considered. 

I watched it in my late teens when I was first getting into film and although no single scene had stayed with me I did remember enjoying it a lot, no doubt in part because it stars two of my favourite actors from the period, Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons.

Simmons is Sister Sharon, a small-time revivalist preacher in 1927, whilst Lancaster is Gantry, a struggling salesman who latches on to her.

We learn that at one time he was training to be a priest until a scandalous sexual liaison with a minister's daughter (Lulu, played by Shirley Jones) puts an end to that.  This may help explain why he takes to revivalism as the proverbial duck takes to water.  

His charisma and showmanship brings Sister Sharon to the attention of church leaders in Zenith (a fictional city, presumably twinned with the town of Climax from Billy Wilder's 'Kiss Me, Stupid') who reluctantly agree to payroll her appearances there in order to boost church attendances.

It appears that she might be on the verge of the big-time, and of realising her dream to build a bricks-and-mortar church to preach from rather than a tent.  She and Gantry also become lovers.

However in the second half of the film things fall apart, mainly due to Lulu coming on to the scene to wreak revenge on Gantry.

Both Lancaster and Jones won Oscars for their performances.  Their scenes together are certainly very effective although in her case an Oscar seems generous.

Providing strong support is Arthur Kennedy as a sceptical journalist, a role he would reprise a few years later in 'Lawrence of Arabia'.

I enjoyed the film on a rewatch despite its length, always engrossed and intrigued as to where it was going.  

My only problem with it is that the melodramatic ending doesn't work in that I don't buy Sister Sharon's behaviour.  

This may be down to the screenplay (by the director Richard Brooks, who married Simmons a few months after the film was released) which doesn't flesh out her character much, or maybe the problem is her performance which is maybe too restrained.

Even so, it’s a film that rewards viewing.