A fast-talking traveling salesman with a charming, loquacious manner convinces a sincere evangelist that he can be an effective preacher for her cause.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 3 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 14 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Burt Lancaster | ... |
Elmer Gantry
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| Jean Simmons | ... |
Sister Sharon Falconer
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| Arthur Kennedy | ... |
Jim Lefferts
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| Dean Jagger | ... |
William L. Morgan
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| Shirley Jones | ... |
Lulu Bains
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| Patti Page | ... |
Sister Rachel
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| Edward Andrews | ... |
George F. Babbitt
(as Ed Andrews)
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| John McIntire | ... |
Rev. John Pengilly
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| Hugh Marlowe | ... |
Rev. Philip Garrison
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| Joe Maross | ... |
Pete
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| Philip Ober | ... |
Rev. Planck
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| Barry Kelley | ... |
Police Capt. Holt
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| Wendell Holmes | ... |
Rev. Ulrich
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Dayton Lummis | ... |
Eddington
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Harry Antrim | ... |
Salesman in Saloon (uncredited)
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| Larry J. Blake | ... |
Mac - Bartender (uncredited)
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| Phil Bloom | ... |
Cornerman (uncredited)
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Paul Bradley | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| Peter Brocco | ... |
Benny - Photographer (uncredited)
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| Claudia Bryar | ... |
Religious woman collecting money in opening scene (uncredited)
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| Budd Buster | ... |
Valet (uncredited)
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| Mushy Callahan | ... |
Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
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| George Cisar | ... |
Salesman in Saloon (uncredited)
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Bing Conley | ... |
Man Destroying Revival Tent (uncredited)
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Tony Dante | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| George DeNormand | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| Ralph Dumke | ... |
Salesman in Saloon (uncredited)
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| George Ford | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Sally Fraser | ... |
Prostitute (uncredited)
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Raoul Freeman | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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Richard George | ... |
Wounded Survivor of Fire on Pier (uncredited)
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| Everett Glass | ... |
Rev. Brown (uncredited)
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| Joseph Glick | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| Sol Gorss | ... |
Hobo in Boxcar (uncredited)
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Mary Adams Hayes | ... |
Salvation Army Worker (uncredited)
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Jack Henderson | ... |
Man Destroying Revival Tent (uncredited)
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| Jimmie Horan | ... |
Choir Member (uncredited)
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| Charles Horvath | ... |
Hobo in Boxcar (uncredited)
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| Rex Ingram | ... |
Preacher of Black Congregation (uncredited)
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| Colin Kenny | ... |
Extra at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
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| Johnny Kern | ... |
Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
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| Mike Lally | ... |
Radio Station Official (uncredited)
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Joanna Lancaster | ... |
Child in Audience (uncredited)
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Sighle Lancaster | ... |
Child in Audience (uncredited)
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| Norman Leavitt | ... |
Salesman in Saloon (uncredited)
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Robert P. Lieb | ... |
Lincoln Police Captain (uncredited)
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| BarBara Luna | ... |
Prostitute (uncredited)
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John Marlin | ... |
Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
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| Mathew McCue | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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John McKee | ... |
Photographer / Reporter (uncredited)
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| David McMahon | ... |
(uncredited)
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William Meader | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| Charles Morton | ... |
Man Destroying Revival Tent (uncredited)
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| Ed Nelson | ... |
Man on Phone at Sister Sharon Headquarters (uncredited)
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| William H. O'Brien | ... |
Train Conductor (uncredited)
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| Gloria Pall | ... |
Girl in Brothel (uncredited)
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| Milton Parsons | ... |
Revivalist (uncredited)
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| Bob Perry | ... |
Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
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| Jack Perry | ... |
Man at Revival Meeting (uncredited)
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Paul Power | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| John Qualen | ... |
Sam - Storekeeper (uncredited)
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| Jean Ransome | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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John Rice | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| Dan Riss | ... |
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
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| John Roy | ... |
Choir Member (uncredited)
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| Max Showalter | ... |
Deaf Man (uncredited)
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Leslie Sketchley | ... |
Choir Member (uncredited)
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Mabel Smaney | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| Marjorie Stapp | ... |
Lady in Red on Christmas Eve (uncredited)
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| Bert Stevens | ... |
Choir Member (uncredited)
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| Jack Stoney | ... |
Revival Tent Roustabout (uncredited)
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| Ken Terrell | ... |
Blind Man (uncredited)
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Blaine Turner | ... |
Congregation Member (uncredited)
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| Dale Van Sickel | ... |
Salesman in Saloon (uncredited)
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| Ray Walker | ... |
Salesman in Saloon (uncredited)
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| Michael Whalen | ... |
Rev. Phillips (uncredited)
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| Guy Wilkerson | ... |
Janitor in Revival Tent (uncredited)
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| Jean Willes | ... |
Prostitute (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Richard Brooks | ||
Written by
| Richard Brooks | ... | (screenplay) |
| Sinclair Lewis | ... | (from the novel by) |
Produced by
| Bernard Smith | ... | producer |
Music by
| André Previn | ... | (music by) |
Cinematography by
| John Alton | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Marjorie Fowler | ... | film editor |
Editorial Department
| Leonard Doss | ... | color consultant (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Edward Carrere | ... | (as Ed Carrere) |
Set Decoration by
| William F. Calvert | ... | (set decorators) (as Bill Calvert) |
| Frank Tuttle | ... | (set decorators) |
Costume Design by
| Dorothy Jeakins | ... | (costumes designed by) |
Makeup Department
| Harry Maret | ... | makeup |
| Robert J. Schiffer | ... | makeup (as Robert Schiffer) |
| Joan St. Oegger | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Gilbert Kurland | ... | executive production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Tom Shaw | ... | assistant director (as Thomas P. Shaw) |
| Carl Beringer | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Joseph Pevney | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
| Rowe Wallerstein | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Robert Webb | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Hudson Radabaugh | ... | propmaster (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Fred J. Brown | ... | sound effects editor (as Fred Brown) |
| Harry D. Mills | ... | sound (as Harry Mills) |
| Eldon Coutts | ... | recordist (uncredited) |
| Sol Jaffe | ... | mike man (uncredited) |
| Andy Payne | ... | cableman (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Paul Baxley | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Al Carmichael | ... | stunt performer (uncredited) |
| Bob Herron | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Charles Horvath | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Richard H. Kline | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| John Livesley | ... | head grip (uncredited) |
| Harold May | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Andrew J. McIntyre | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Val O'Malley | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| James Saper | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Al St. Hilaire | ... | stills (uncredited) |
| Harry Sundby | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Renié | ... | costumer |
| Tom Dawson | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Ken Darby | ... | associate music supervisor |
| Ving Hershon | ... | music editor (uncredited) |
| Kenyon Hopkins | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Albert Woodbury | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| John Franco | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Thom Conroy | ... | dialogue coach (uncredited) |
| Jerry Ludwig | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1960) (United States) (theatrical) (presents)
- United Artists (1960) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Nova Film (1961) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1961) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1961) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1961) (France) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1961) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1961) (Norway) (theatrical)
- CBS (1965) (United States) (tv)
- CBS/Fox (1985) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- CBS/Fox (1987) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Warner Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- ARTE (1993) (France) (tv)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- TGG Direct (2010) (United States) (DVD) (double-billed with 'Birdman of Alcatraz' as '2 Pack Drama')
- 7Two (2010) (Australia) (tv)
- Kino Lorber (2014) (United States) (Blu-ray) (video)
- Explosive-Media (2021) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Explosive-Media (2021) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of: affiliated with A.F. of L.)
- MGM Home Entertainment (vhs package design)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA) (approval certificate as MPAA) (no. 19593)
- Solters & Digney (publicity)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Elmer Gantry is a fast-talking, hard-drinking traveling salesman who always has a risqué story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike. He is immediately taken with Sister Sharon Falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfire-and-damnation revivalism has attracted quite a following. Gantry uses his own quick wit and Bible knowledge to become an indispensable part of Sister Sharon's roadshow, but his past soon catches up with him in the form of Lulu Bains, now a prostitute. While Gantry seeks and eventually gets forgiveness from Sharon, tragedy strikes when she finally manages to get out of her revivalist tent and opens a permanent church. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The screen has never known a man like ELMER GANTRY See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $3,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | When he first learned that Richard Brooks was interested in adapting his novel, Sinclair Lewis told him that he should change it significantly, advising him to read all the criticisms of the book and use them as a way to improve on it. See more » |
| Goofs | The location where Sister Sharon confronts the police captain and fire chief over erecting her tent is purported to be in Lincoln Nebraska. The opening part of the scene shows mountains in the background. There are no mountains around Lincoln. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Hollywood: The Fabulous Era (1962). See more » |
| Soundtracks | I'm On My Way to Canaan Land See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Scrolled before the opening credits: "We believe that certain aspects of Revivalism can bear examination- that the conduct of some revivalists makes a mockery of the traditional beliefs and practices of organized Christianity! We believe that everyone has a right to worship according to his conscience, but- Freedom of Religion is not license to abuse the faith of the people! However, due to the highly controversial nature of this film, we strongly urge you to prevent impressionable children from seeing it!" See more » |
| Quotes |
Lulu Bains:
Oh, he gave me special instructions back of the pulpit Christmas Eve. He got to howlin' "Repent! Repent!" and I got to moanin' "Save me! Save me!" and the first thing I know he rammed the fear of God into me so fast I never heard my old man's footsteps! See more » |