A charismatic charlatan begins a business — and eventually romantic — relationship with a roadside evangelist to sell religion to 1920s America. Based on Sinclair Lewis' novel of the same name.
Directed by Richard Brooks
based on novel or book
con man
fraud
kansas, usa
religion
preacher
religious hypocrisy
traveling salesman
evangelist
revivalism
revival meeting
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.9 / 5
Cast
Burt Lancaster
Elmer Gantry
Jean Simmons
Sister Sharon Falconer
Arthur Kennedy
Jim Lefferts
Dean Jagger
William L. Morgan
Shirley Jones
Lulu Bains
Patti Page
Sister Rachel
Edward Andrews
George F. Babbitt
John McIntire
Rev. John Pengilly
Hugh Marlowe
Rev. Philip Garrison
Joe Maross
Pete
Philip Ober
Reverend Planck
Barry Kelley
Police Captain Holt
Crew
Richard Brooks
Director
Richard Brooks
Screenplay
André Previn
Original Music Composer
John Alton
Director of Photography
Sinclair Lewis
Novel
Bob Herron
Stunts
Charles Horvath
Stunts
Paul Baxley
Stunts
Dorothy Jeakins
Costume Design
Popular Reviews
13 reviews
geo
8.0★ · 04/28/26
paul dano did the i will gum you sermon better
paul dano did the i will gum you sermon better
Kieran
9.0★ · 03/14/26
I’m having that trouble again where the film is so good that I just can’t do it justice by writing about it. Only happened a few times on first watch.
Undoubtedly an absolute masterpiece.
I’m having that trouble again where the film is so good that I just can’t do it justice by writing about it. Only happened a few times on first watch.
Undoubtedly an absolute masterpiece.
E. A. Bland
5.0★ · 12/26/25
A Bedtime Watch - No Score
A Bedtime Watch - No Score
mimi
8.0★ · 04/19/24
— “What were they so mad about anyhow?”
— “The mob don’t like their gods to be human.”
y’all look at my preacher i’m going to hell 😭😭
— “What were they so mad about anyhow?”
— “The mob don’t like their gods to be human.”
y’all look at my preacher i’m going to hell 😭😭
JMadson
5.8★ · 11/05/21
Burt Lancaster is astonishing in this film, hut beyond him many of the other performances are too inconsistent or dull. Plus this movie is way longer than it needs to be and drags to long too often at points.
Burt Lancaster is astonishing in this film, hut beyond him many of the other performances are too inconsistent or dull. Plus this movie is way longer than it needs to be and drags to long too often at points.
