A review by Brian M Downing
7/10
Sinclair Lewis’s 1927 book is deeply satirical and loads of fun. It’s dedicated to the caustic HL Mencken, who loathed fundamentalism. The film isn’t satirical, though some scenes of revival meetings might seem that way – a howling sinner, a deaf man who takes spoken cues.
Text at the opening tries to deflect criticism by saying the film depicts only some preachers, much like The Godfather wasn’t intended to show all Italians. The seriousness and preemptive apologetics are flaws in my view, as is the ending, but 1960 was the heyday of Billy Graham and the Code still had clout.
Brooks uses only about one-fourth of the book, from Elmer (Burt Lancaster) joining up with the operation of Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons) up to the catastrophic fire. She has a nose for business but is nonetheless sincere. Not so in the book. She’s a calculating fraud and is more at home rolling in the hay than bringing in the sheaves.
Lancaster must have had a ball delivering the fiery oration and stage antics. Jesus, he tells us, wasn’t a sissy and he could lick any man in the house. Burt favors us with spirited baseball slide across the stage. The words and antics are a nod to Billy Sunday, the evangelist (and former baseball player) of the period that Elmer Gantry is in part based on. Falconer is similarly based on Aimee Semple McPherson.
Initially it might seem that Burt is overdoing things but a moment’s reflection on the mountebanks of our day, political and religious, will tell you he isn’t. Elmer has Christian beliefs. Early on, he walks into a black church and joins them in a spiritual. It’s a great scene. Later though, his religiousness is muddled with egotism, joy in working crowds, salesmanship, and a hedonistic streak. He confuses the enthrallment of simple congregants with the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The film ends with a catastrophic fire in the revival tent in which Sister Sharon perishes. Saddened, Elmer strides away from the smoking ruins, presumably a changed man.
The book ends with Elmer caught up in a sex scandal and going before his congregation to confess his sins and plead for forgiveness. It’s quite a performance – one that Jimmy Swaggart might have benefited from. Americans are a forgiving people.
Outstanding cinematography and lighting. Fine supporting performances from Dean Jagger, Arthur Kennedy, and Shirley Jones. She uncharacteristically plays a hooker to whom Elmer has ministered on more than one occasion.
© 2020 Brian M Downing
Brian M Downing is a national security analyst who’s written for outlets across the political spectrum. He studied at Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, and did post-graduate work at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs. Thanks as ever to Susan Ganosellis.