Richard brooks IN COLD BLOOD is one of my all time favorite films. But I am not too fond of his overtly talky films like CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH and now ELMER GANTRY. ELMER GANTRY was too much like a play. I did not feel like i was watching a movie. There are just too many scenes where LANCASTER simply cons a lot of religious folk. There are way too many scenes that sort of emphasizes GANTRY's cunning nature and too many that emphasize how romantic Sharon Falconer is. Of course, LANCASTER is splendid as the corrupt fast talking hard drinking GANTRY. He lights up the screen and is a perfect foil for the understated JEAN SIMMONS. I cannot put my finger on what exactly went wrong with the movie. Too many indoor scenes with overtly dramatic elements but not too many cinematic elements?
The film really works towards the end when the prostitute (played by a sexy SHIRLEY JONES) spoils GANTRY's plans. We see a bit of GANTRY's humanity after he is built up as a scheming crook throughout the film.
I felt that the film was a lot like A FACE IN THE CROWD. While A FACE IN THE CROWD was about the marriage between celebrity, politics and media, ELMER GANTRY was about the power of religion and how it was used to control and congullible people. I look forward to reading the book by SINCLAIR LEWIS.
(6.5/10)
The film really works towards the end when the prostitute (played by a sexy SHIRLEY JONES) spoils GANTRY's plans. We see a bit of GANTRY's humanity after he is built up as a scheming crook throughout the film.
I felt that the film was a lot like A FACE IN THE CROWD. While A FACE IN THE CROWD was about the marriage between celebrity, politics and media, ELMER GANTRY was about the power of religion and how it was used to control and congullible people. I look forward to reading the book by SINCLAIR LEWIS.
(6.5/10)