Glory! Glory! (1989 TV Movie) User Reviews

decent show

[Ajtlawyer · 7/10 · 30 March 2006]

I've had a VHS copy of "Glory! Glory!" for years and it's become valuable (copies selling for over $35 on eBay!). The movie is pretty cheesy but entertaining.

Spoiler alert---- Rev. Dan Stuckey is the elderly, charismatic minister of the Church of the Community of Christ TV ministry. When he conks out due to a stroke, his earnest son, Bobby Joe (Richard Thomas) takes over the ministry, guided by the ministry's business maven, Lester (James Whitmore). The problem is, Bobby Joe is incredibly boring and uninspiring and contributions dry up to the point where the ministry is in danger of folding.

Praying for inspiration, Bobby Joe is seemingly led to a roadhouse where Ruth (Ellen Greene), a slutty, foul-mouthed, coke-sniffing, bed-hopping singer is fronting the band. Inspired, Bobby Joe asks her to be on his show and re-write her songs to reflect a Christian sensibility. Ruth only cares that she'll be on TV. What happens is that she becomes an international sensation and "The Sister Ruth" show is the biggest thing on TV. Along the way she snorts coke, beds Bobby Joe (and about everyone else), has an abortion but then seems to have a genuine conversion and becomes a real faith healer. She's torn though between her cynical private life and her virtuous public persona. Bobby Joe meanwhile is continually compromised into fornication, looking the other way when she has an abortion, to the point that he resorts to blackmail to save the ministry, egged on and tempted in all of this by the elderly Lester who wants to keep the money rolling in, no matter what the moral cost.

The music in this movie is first-rate and I'm surprised that the songs didn't cross over to become Christian music hits. The acting in the movie is generally excellent but Ellen Greene's acting is just very wooden to me. She had been a Broadway star before this movie in "Little Shop of Horrors" in which she played Audrey (also in the movie version). Her acting isn't up to the same caliber as Richard Thomas and James Whitmore. Whitmore steals every scene he's in but Richard Thomas is excellent, too. I'm glad to see a couple other reviewers singling out my favorite character in the movie, Vincent, the huge, thuggish ex-con who is Lester's henchman. What work does he do for the ministry? "Anything that needs doing. . ." and so if you need cocaine, if you need to find a discreet abortionist, if you need to find actors who will participate in fake healings and keep their mouths shut, you call Vincent. George Buza plays Vincent and is an unforgettable presence in this movie. I loved that guy.

Praise be

[Prismark10 · 8/10 · 3 September 2015]

This was regarded as British director's Lindsay Anderson first foray into television. Its a light satire on televangelism with Richard Thomas an anaemic evangelist taking over his father's ministry. His sermons go down poorly, funds begin to dry up and and he comes across a rebellious rock performer (Ellen Greene) who becomes Sister Ruth, makes her songs more religious and creates a storm rejuvenating the ministry but sex, drugs and rock n roll are never far behind.

This was an entertaining television two parter but you kind of think that L'Infant terrible of the British new wave cinema was holding back some of his punches.

It does have a Television movie sheen about it but Ellen Greene oozed sex appeal and Richard Thomas was in his element for this entertaining dig at some of the celebrity preachers of the time.

Brilliant, hysterical satire of televangelists!

[paulettemoudakis · 10/10 · 12 August 2004]

This 1989 HBO movie is one of my all-time favorites. This is about a televangelist who dies and leaves his "ministry" to his less than exciting son, played by Richard Thomas. James Whitmore is absolutely brilliant as the ministry's CFO and overall manager. With the ministry going down the tubes with Thomas at it's head, he stumbles across a rock performer (Ellen Greene) who is well into sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. He convinces her to come and perform at his services - which she agrees to when she discovers he is syndicated across the country. She becomes Sister Ruth and steals the entire show. The film unfolds from this premise into a truly hysterical satire of the entire televangelist communities. I crack up every time I watch this - and must say that the music and performances of Ellen Greene are great! The movie was originally presented in two parts for a total running time of 3 hours, 18 minutes. I, too, have tried in vain to find it commercially released. I DID find a VHS version of it on E-Bay, but they cut the film almost in half to fit on one VHS, so I didn't bother. I am very glad I taped it at the time it was aired, so I DO have the entire film on an old VHS tape. Not the greatest quality, but watchable. I just recently converted it to DVD to archive it before the tape turns to dust! Hopefully, HBO will actually release this gem some day on DVD! But if you get a chance to see it, don't pass it up!

Satire at its Best...

[BongoBoy · 10/10 · 5 December 2001]

As noted by the first three reviewers (ironically, all of them from Oklahoma... clearly a state that recognizes great films), "Glory! Glory!" is truly special. The late, great director Lindsay Anderson solidified his well-deserved reputation as a master of satire with this entry.

Unfortunately, "Glory! Glory!" has never been released on either VHS or DVD. A pity, because the writing, acting and overall production are positively brilliant. Never too heavy-handed, it makes solid points about the business of televangelism and how it is no different from any other aspect of showbiz. Backroom deals of all types are cut, individuals act in self-serving ways that contradict the "holy mission" they claim to represent, people manipulate, control and abuse one another ... and that's just on the surface!

Did I mention that this is achieved with a wry, light-hearted touch? Presenting this potentially inflammatory material in such tongue-in-cheek fashion prevents it from descending into a lecture. The viewer will find himself laughing out loud much of the way. A real bonus is that the music is also top rate and never intrusive; when we hear a song, it is part of the overall story and thus propels it forward.

Richard Thomas and Ellen Greene are standouts. Both infuse their characters with a depth that allows us easy access to their individual strengths and weaknesses. That being said, in my estimation James Whitmore's performance as Lester Babbitt runs away with the show. Sublime and outrageous simultaneously, it is the stuff of legend. A consummate character actor, Whitmore has never been finer.

If you ever get the opportunity to see this, drop everything else and make it top priority. You will indeed be rewarded.

One of the best movies I have seen - unavailable for consumer purchase

[prgebo · 25 March 2002]

I can still remember watching this film back in 1989 - I was blown away by the vocal of Ellen Greene - The acting in this little know movie was great. The timing of this films release could not have been any better as it co-insided with the headlines of the day. Tel-evanglists were in the spot light and this made light of them, but also provided insight in to what can happen when you believe in yourself and others around you.

I have been trying to purchase a copy of this film since 1989 with out success. This movie is well worth your time to see and hear. The vocals of Ellen Greene are simple breathtaking.

God help us!

[zetes · 5/10 · 23 February 2003]

I think this was made for HBO during a time of huge scandals in televangelism. It has the same consistency of an HBO movie: unsubtle, poorly acted, and generic. It's not a bad movie, especially for that origin. However, when a director like Anderson has directed it, I expected a little better. The direction is so bad, though, it's truly, truly embarrassing. The film is about a failing evangelist who hires a sexy singer to spice up his services. She steals the show from him. I don't know, I couldn't finish it. Like I said, it's not awful, but I just figured that life was too short to watch something so unaccomplished. Plus, Christian rock, which is abundant in the film, is the second worst genre of music on the planet, right after Christian ska.

P.S. If you're looking for this, it actually has been on VHS before, despite what previous comments have said. Orion put it out. I found it in my library system. But, really, you don't want to see this, at least if you're a fan of Lindsay Anderson. Only if you're a completist, but it's just an embarrassment.

Good acting, excellent music and an interesting story line.

[bunnywanenmacher · 10/10 · 2 March 2001]

Unfortunately this made for t.v. movie is not easy to come by and has not seen a lot of air time, but should you be lucky enough to watch it, you will enjoy the music, the story and the acting. It's listed as a comedy, though I have to say it seemed more like an off beat drama. Overall an excellent show to watch.

Frankly my dear, I loved it

[sharlyfarley · 9/10 · 3 August 2005]

Televangelists are fair game, but the subject is seldom handled with as much wit or salty glee as it is here. Bobby Joe can't quite seem to get the hang of it, he doesn't have his Daddy's gift. But when he sees Ruth (Ellen Greene) singing in a bar - and moving the audience - he gets an idea: use her to sell Jesus! Ruth has her own ideas, including the ever-popular sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. What she doesn't expect is a genuine conversion...Or that her affairs will suddenly become public.

The cast is terrific, especially James Whitmore (who steals every scene he's in) with the exception of Ruth's lover, the newsman. It's a conventional role, but the actor doesn't bring much to it. In the minor role of Whitmore's henchman, Vincent, Mr. Buza is so good he deserves his own movie...

This is not for the soberly fundamentalist, but all the rest of you will have a good time.

We Loved This Movie

[mckchausse · 10/10 · 27 February 2005]

We enjoyed the cheesy acting! We recorded this movie years ago, and watched the VHS tape so much, we have worn it out. We've invited friends and relatives to watch it with us. I can't speak for them, whether they enjoyed it or now. My wife loved all the songs, she can sing them verbatim. We've been looking for this movie to own on DVD for years since our VHS tape is fading out.

I can not really explain the effect this movie had on us, other than we love Vincent. I have a Vincent at my shop, and I think of this movie every time I call for him. I wish he could see this movie.

Wonderful... but why can't we buy it anywhere?

[sbolen · 10/10 · 12 January 2001]

This movie is absolutely top-drawer. It was released right around the time when there were numerous scandals in the news regarding TV evangelists. The acting was wonderful and the writing was stupendous. I recommend viewing this movie if you ever have the chance to see it. I have been somewhat dismayed, however, to find that there is apparently nowhere to purchase this movie... and I have tried just about everywhere. If anybody out there has any pull with anyone, please see that this movie gets another chance to see the light of day!

Would God approve of this film?

[helpless_dancer · 27 September 2001]

Fair look at the inside of televangelists and their henchmen. It was presented tongue in cheek, but I believe that behind the scenes many of these so-called Godly men harbor a longing for more and more money....all in the name of The Lord, of course. The language in this film is very salty at times making me feel uncomfortable because the subject matter didn't mix well with such vulgarity. I can see a good bit of realism here by watching the lengths that many churches will go to in order to "up the attendance"....all in the name of The Savior, naturally.