I have long felt that Burt Lancaster often made movies great because his acting was much bigger-than-life, and he also helped degrade a few movies for this very same reason. The trouble is, he needed a good reason for his broad and over-the-top acting. He just didn't do subtle very well, as his acting tends to magnify the focus on himself--which, once again can be either good or bad.
Well in this case, Lancaster's larger-than-life acting is right on the mark, as it perfectly suits the huckster showman that he played. Elmer Gantry is a combination of Jimmy Swaggert, Professor Hill (The Music Man) and P. T. Barnum--after becoming all juiced up on speed! While he is totally insincere and wicked, his performance is mesmerizing and believable. Although Jean Simmons does a fine job in the movie and Shirley Jones received an Oscar for her supporting role as a whore (wow--that is acting against type), this is Lancaster's movie through and through. He deservedly won the Oscar for Best Actor.
Well in this case, Lancaster's larger-than-life acting is right on the mark, as it perfectly suits the huckster showman that he played. Elmer Gantry is a combination of Jimmy Swaggert, Professor Hill (The Music Man) and P. T. Barnum--after becoming all juiced up on speed! While he is totally insincere and wicked, his performance is mesmerizing and believable. Although Jean Simmons does a fine job in the movie and Shirley Jones received an Oscar for her supporting role as a whore (wow--that is acting against type), this is Lancaster's movie through and through. He deservedly won the Oscar for Best Actor.