Review of Elmer Gantry (1960) by Morgan R — 10 Sep 2010

Challenging hypocrisy and the difference between sales and passion, Gantry is rightly hailed as a classic. Burt Lancaster's towering central performance overpowers (possibly deliberately) the other cast, and his delivery of the morally ambiguous, salacious, selfish sales man who finds people who want to find god is manginificent, and the fact that he appears to 'win' in the end makes the film even more textured.

Revivalism will always be viewed with suspicion by UK residents, and it is so different to out concept of worship. It is encouraging that some of that concern about the ability to manipulate via frenzy and rapture is also shared by those who lived through it.