7.1
Desert Hearts
1985
“If there was a dollar to be made—Gantry would make it … If there was a soul to be saved—Gantry would save it …”
Elmer Gantry (1960)
July 7, 19602h 26mEN
7.3
197 votes
Overview
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.
Director
Richard BrooksWriters
Where to Watch
Streaming availability for India
Stream
Free
Top Billed Cast
Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$3.0M
Revenue
$10.4M
Production Companies
United Artists
Movies Like Elmer Gantry
Recommended for You
User Reviews
CinemaSerf
7.0Burt Lancaster is on great form here as the eponymous quick-talking and charismatic hoover salesman who alights upon the successful industry that is "Sister Sharon" (Jean Simmons). She preaches the word of God with a piousness that he finds compelling. Not because he shares her zeal, but because he can see the impact it has on the rather sheepish population who turn up at her prayer meetings in their thousands - and donate for the work of the Lord in just as generous a fashion. Initially, the Sister is sceptical but she underestimates his charms and his persevering nature. He, too, does some u…
Read full review →
Wuchak
7.0**_The story of traveling tent revivalists in 1920’s America_** A fast-talking salesman from Missouri (Burt Lancaster) is attracted to the troupe of a winsome evangelist (Jean Simmons). Once he proves his abilities as a charismatic preacher, he joins the "road church" show, but a woman from his past threatens to shake things up (Shirley Jones). Arthur Kennedy plays a reporter who travels with the group by train. "Elmer Gantry" (1960) was based on less than one-fourth of the 1927 book by agnostic-turned-atheist Sinclair Lewis. It makes fundamental changes to the two main characters by pai…
Read full review →