Elmer Gantry (1960) ft. Shoot the Flick
Dana and Tom are joined by first-time guests, Frankie and Scott (Shoot the Flick), to discuss another Best Picture nominee from 1960 with Elmer Gantry - celebrating its 65th anniversary: written and directed by Richard Brooks, cinematography by John Alton, music by Andre Previn, starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Arthur Kennedy, and Shirley Jones.
Plot Summary: Based on a novel by Sinclair Lewis, Elmer Gantry's story follows the titular character (Burt Lancaster), a charismatic but morally dubious traveling salesman who uses his charm and persuasive skills to infiltrate the world of evangelical revivalism. He joins forces with Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons), a passionate preacher, and together they build a thriving religious movement. However, Gantry's past and his self-serving nature threaten to unravel everything, leading to dramatic consequences.
Guests:
Frankie Sparks
Scott Eisenberg
- Co-host of Shoot the Flick
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome to Frankie and Scott
00:46 Cast for Elmer Gantry
03:01 Why Elmer Gantry? Relationship(s) to the Film
07:01 Why Does Elmer Gantry Start with a Warning Label?
08:50 What is Elmer Gantry About?
19:08 Did Dana Like the Film?
20:08 Did Burt Lancaster Deserve His Oscar?
26:55 Background for Elmer Gantry
28:13 Plot Summary for Elmer Gantry
28:59 Did You Know?
36:28 First Break
38:21 What's Happening with Frankie and Scott?
42:22 Best Performance(s)
01:01:39 Best Scene(s)
01:15:02 Second Break
01:15:43 Best/Funniest Lines
01:18:47 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
01:23:22 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
01:27:49 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
01:36:27 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:45:25 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
01:55:01 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
01:58:10 Remaining Questions for Elmer Gantry
02:02:55 Thank You to Scott and Frankie and Final Thoughts
02:06:14 Credits
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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/elmer-gantry-1960-ft-shoot-the-flick
For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list
Keywords:
Elmer Gantry, Burt Lancaster, false prophets, religion, film analysis, classic cinema, character development, cultural context, Oscar winners, movie history, charisma, best scenes, indelible moments, humor, legacy, classicness, rewatchability, Richard Brooks, Andre Previn, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones, Arthur Kennedy
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