Elmer Gantry (1960)

145-146 mins | Drama | July 1960

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writer:

Richard Brooks

Producer:

Bernard Smith

Cinematographer:

John Alton

Editor:

Marjorie Fowler

Production Designer:

Ed Carrere

Production Company:

Elmer Gantry Productions
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HISTORY

The film begins with the following written statement: "We believe that certain aspects of Revivalism can bear examination--that the conduct of some revivalists makes a mockery of the traditional beliefs and practices of organized Christianity! We believe that everyone has a right to worship according to his conscience, but--Freedom of Religion is not license to abuse the faith of the people! However, due to the highly controversial nature of this film, we strongly urge you to prevent impressionable children from seeing it!" The credits then run, followed by a close-up of the first page of the novel Elmer Gantry.
       Sinclair Lewis (1885--1951) wrote the novel in 1927 as a satire of evangelist religion. His “Elmer Gantry” is a drunken carouser who falls into religion as a way of gaining riches and fame. An ordained Baptist minister, Gantry is expelled from the seminary when he seduces a young girl, but soon becomes the manager of evangelist "Sharon Falconer." After Falconer dies in a fire, Gantry becomes a highly successful Methodist minister, and although he is set up to be caught in a scandal, he evades conviction and goes on to increase his influence, power and corruption. One of the book’s characters, "George Babbitt," had earlier been the lead character in Lewis’ popular novel Babbitt.
       Lewis was inspired to create Gantry by the flamboyant evangelist ministers prominent in 1920s society, including Aimee Semple McPherson (1890--1944) and Billy Sunday (1862--1935). The book engendered extensive controversy, both in the literary community, much of which felt that the characters were mere caricatures, and in the religious community, which resented the portrayal of a degenerate minister. As noted in publicity materials ...

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The film begins with the following written statement: "We believe that certain aspects of Revivalism can bear examination--that the conduct of some revivalists makes a mockery of the traditional beliefs and practices of organized Christianity! We believe that everyone has a right to worship according to his conscience, but--Freedom of Religion is not license to abuse the faith of the people! However, due to the highly controversial nature of this film, we strongly urge you to prevent impressionable children from seeing it!" The credits then run, followed by a close-up of the first page of the novel Elmer Gantry.
       Sinclair Lewis (1885--1951) wrote the novel in 1927 as a satire of evangelist religion. His “Elmer Gantry” is a drunken carouser who falls into religion as a way of gaining riches and fame. An ordained Baptist minister, Gantry is expelled from the seminary when he seduces a young girl, but soon becomes the manager of evangelist "Sharon Falconer." After Falconer dies in a fire, Gantry becomes a highly successful Methodist minister, and although he is set up to be caught in a scandal, he evades conviction and goes on to increase his influence, power and corruption. One of the book’s characters, "George Babbitt," had earlier been the lead character in Lewis’ popular novel Babbitt.
       Lewis was inspired to create Gantry by the flamboyant evangelist ministers prominent in 1920s society, including Aimee Semple McPherson (1890--1944) and Billy Sunday (1862--1935). The book engendered extensive controversy, both in the literary community, much of which felt that the characters were mere caricatures, and in the religious community, which resented the portrayal of a degenerate minister. As noted in publicity materials for the film, “Lewis was personally invited to attend his own lynching.” Despite being banned in various cities, Elmer Gantry was one of the novels that led Lewis to being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1930.
       The book was adapted into a play by Patrick Kearney and opened on Broadway on 7 Aug 1928. According to information in the file on the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library, as early as 1928 producers sought PCA analysis of a film version of the novel or play, but were informed that its content made it unsuitable for a motion picture.
       In a Jul 1960 NYT article, director Richard Brooks wrote that he first entertained the idea of writing a film adaptation of Elmer Gantry in 1945, when Lewis favorably reviewed Brooks’s first novel, The Brick Foxhole, in Esquire magazine. When Brooks, at the time a marine, was then threatened with a court-martial for failing to submit the novel to the Marine Corps for approval, Lewis agreed to testify on his behalf. After the suit was dropped, Lewis met Brooks at a bar, where he gave him permission to attempt to film his book, cautioning the young writer to consult the many critiques of the novel, written by such journalists as H. L. Mencken and Elmer Davis, in order to improve on it. “I cannot overstate how much these reviews helped me in formatting the film,” Brooks wrote.
       Although he had not yet officially acquired the rights to the novel, in 1953 Brooks appealed to the PCA for approval of a script. Correspondence in the PCA file indicates that at that time, PCA head Geoffrey Shurlock suggested that Brooks use the assistance of an evangelist minister to prepare an outline. In Apr 1955, NYT reported that Brooks had purchased an option on the novel and was considering Montgomery Clift to play the lead role. At the time, Brooks assumed he might produce the feature in 1956. As noted in an Oct 1959 NYT article, several studios refused to support the controversial film and Brooks had to re-purchase the option each successive year. Finally, he attained the participation of Burt Lancaster, whom he had met while writing for Lancaster’s first film, The Killers (1946), and the 1947 picture Brute Force (for both, see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1941-50). After Lancaster signed on in 1958, United Artists agreed to finance and distribute the adaptation. Brooks noted in the Jul 1960 NYT feature that he then spent over one year writing eight drafts of the screenplay.
       A 21 Nov 1958 memo in the PCA file specifies that Shurlock considered the film’s first draft to be in violation of the Code. In response (and in accordance with Lancaster’s age), according to a modern interview with Brooks, the writer-director adapted the story to focus on Gantry’s middle years, changed Falconer into a sincerely religious figure, converted “Jim Lefferts” from a seminary student to an atheist reporter and, most importantly, portrayed Gantry as not an ordained minister. This change sidestepped Code restrictions disallowing ministers to be portrayed in a negative light. In a 24 Nov 1958 memo, Brooks noted that he retained the story’s 1920s setting in order to avoid any identification with contemporary religious leaders.
       As a result, Shurlock stated in Aug 1959 that the basic story met with Code requirements, requiring only minor changes in language before the film could be awarded a seal. According to modern sources, in meetings with the National Catholic Legion of Decency, Brooks agreed to add the written disclaimer that precedes the film, warning parents not to bring children to screenings. The Legion then granted Elmer Gantry a B rating, stating that it created a negative atmosphere that failed to distinguish clearly between true “religionists” and commercial exploiters of faith.
       Despite the changes to the book and the Code’s lenience, by spring of 1959 many church leaders were expressing concern that any adaptation of the novel would be offensive. In Jun 1959, as noted in the PCA files, George A. Heimrich, the West Coast Director of the National Council of Churches of Christ, issued a press statement attacking the film industry as a whole and Elmer Gantry in particular for its overemphasis on violence and sex. In response, however, Robert W. Spike, General Secretary of the Board for Home Missions of the Congregational and Christian Churches, wrote the following to the PCA: “The film industry has recently begun to show increased maturity and artistic sensitivity….There is no need for Protestants to be defensive about Elmer Gantry. I’m sure our ministry has enough validity and integrity to withstand this classic caricature.”
       In response to what a 28 Oct 1959 Var article described as the “severe attack” from Protestant pressure groups, Brooks countered that the “new generation of filmmakers…now have the courage to tackle subjects that were once taboo.” In the Var article, Brooks attributed this to both the emergence of independent production companies and a “lessening of the old fears.” In a 30 Oct 1959 LAMirror-News editorial, Brooks called the church groups’ response “a matter of veiled force, censorship and boycott.” The debate continued until the film’s release, when Rev. Dr. Dan R. Potter, director of the Protestant Council of the City of New York, called the film “a slap at religion.” As noted in a 20 Jul 1960 Var article, Brooks once again responded that the picture attempted to portray a search for truth in religion.
       Partially as a result of the controversy, Brooks kept the script and the production strictly confidential. The final draft was approved in Aug 1959 with only minor modifications by the PCA, but the filmmakers refused to make a synopsis of it available to the press, as was the customary practice. Producer Bernard Smith was quoted in a 29 Oct 1959 LAT article as stating that “the script ‘is so technical that a layman might misunderstand it.’” Despite Brooks’s caution, as reported in an Aug 1961 NYT article, the script “fell into the hands of another producer,” who then petitioned the PCA to be allowed the same liberties as had Brooks. As a result, Brooks was forced to make new changes to the already-approved script, fostering an even more intense desire for secrecy on the sets of his future productions.
       Although a Jan 1959 HR news item stated that Brooks’s independent company, Richlaw Productions, would produce the film, that company was not listed in any other source. An Aug 1959 HR news item noted that Irving Lazar was originally to have co-produced the film with Smith. Don Ameche was originally cast as "William L. Morgan," but when the film's start was delayed, he left the production and was replaced by Dean Jagger. Other 1959 HR news items mention Susan Hayward and Christopher Plummer as possible stars, and add Mark Allen, Frank Killmond, Jason Johnson, Mike Mason, Charles Alvin Bell, Mushy Callahan, Milton Parsons, Jim Richardson, Adrienne Marden, Robert Hoy, Saul Gorss and Tenton T. Knight to the cast, although their appearance in the final film has not been confirmed. Although HR reported that Kevin McCarthy had been cast, he was not in the picture. In addition, a modern source adds to the cast Budd Buster, Mary Adams Hayes, Colin Kenny, Mike Lally, John McKee, David McMahon, Gloria Pall, Charles Perry, Dan Riss, Bert Stevens, Jack Stoney and Ken Terrell . Although HR production charts from early Nov--early Dec 1959 list Joseph Pevney as a director of the film, his actual title has not been determined and it is likely that he worked as a second unit director. A modern source adds the following crew members: Robert Webb (2d asst dir), Bob Herron and Charles Horvath (Stunts), Leonard Doss (Col consultant) and Kenyon Hopkins (Mus cond).
       The novel's writer is mentioned by name in the film, during the scene in which Gantry convinces editor "Eddington" that he deserves radio time to rebut Lefferts' accusations, and compares the journalist to such other brilliant, atheist writers as Lewis and Mencken. HR production charts and news items state that much of the film was shot at the Columbia Ranch and the Columbia and M-G-M studio lots, and as noted in studio press materials, the scenes of the tabernacle were shot on location in Santa Monica, CA. Brooks stated in a modern interview that the scene in which the tabernacle burns down included 200 stunt people and 1,200 extras, many of whom were recruited from nearby airplane factories. Press materials relate that the filmmakers had trouble starting the fire and so brought old nitrate films from the Columbia studio and used the highly flammable substance to start the fire.
       Press notes add that two of Lancaster's children, Joanna and Sighle, appeared in the film. Lancaster sings several hymns in the film, and a Sep 1959 DV news item noted that United Artists Records was planning to distribute commercial recordings of the tunes. During filming, Jean Simmons, who at the time was married to Stewart Granger, began an affair with Brooks that culminated in their marriage on 1 Nov 1960. Their first daughter was born the following year and they remained married until 1977.
       Shirley Jones stated in a modern source that Brooks wanted Piper Laurie to play the role of “Lulu Bains” and a result was initially cold to her. After her success in the role, for which she won her only Academy Award, she turned down many dramatic parts, fearful of being typecast as a prostitute. As a result, Elmer Gantry marked the only purely dramatic role in her feature film career.
       Brooks shot the film in the then rarely used, classic aspect ratio of 1.33:1, stating in a 20 Jul 1960 Var article that the story required the intimacy of the smaller proportions. As noted in that article, he then had to ensure that the picture would be exhibited in that ratio, rather than the more standard wide screens, and worked with certain theaters to provide the correct lenses.
       At the 29 Jun 1960 premiere in Hollywood, children under the age of sixteen were not allowed in unless accompanied by a parent. The film ran with minor deletions in Canada, England and Australia. According to a HR news item, in conjunction with the film’s release, the novel was serialized in the NY Daily Mirror in Aug 1960.
       Elmer Gantry won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Lancaster), Best Supporting Actress (Jones) and Best Adapted Screenplay. In addition, it earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Music (Andre Previn). Among the film's many other honors, Brooks was nominated for the DGA Award for Best Director and won the WGA Award for Best Written American Drama, and Lancaster won a Best Actor Golden Globe award. When the 1992 film Leap of Faith (directed by Richard Pearce and starring Steve Martin and Debra Winger) was released, many reviewers commented on its story’s similarity to Elmer Gantry.

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
PERSONAL & COMPANY INDEX CREDITS
HISTORY CREDITS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Box Office
4 Jul 1960
---
Box Office
18 Jul 1960
---
Cosmopolitan
Mar 1960
pp. 78-81
Daily Variety
15 Sep 1959
---
Daily Variety
3 Jun 1960
p. 1, 4
Daily Variety
24 Jun 1960
p. 3
Daily Variety
20 Jul 1960
p. 1, 4
Daily Variety
12 Aug 1960
---
Film Daily
24 Jun 1960
p. 6
Filmfacts
5 Aug 1960
pp. 159-61
Hollywood Reporter
29 Jan 1959
p. 2
Hollywood Reporter
3 Apr 1959
p. 1
Hollywood Reporter
13 Aug 1959
p. 2
Hollywood Reporter
28 Aug 1959
pp. 1-2
Hollywood Reporter
8 Sep 1959
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
11 Sep 1959
p. 6, 10, 13
Hollywood Reporter
15 Sep 1959
p. 12
Hollywood Reporter
16 Sep 1959
p. 2, 6
Hollywood Reporter
17 Sep 1959
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
6 Oct 1959
p. 8
Hollywood Reporter
19 Oct 1959
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
3 Nov 1959
p. 2, 6
Hollywood Reporter
4 Nov 1959
p. 4
Hollywood Reporter
6 Nov 1959
p. 17
Hollywood Reporter
13 Nov 1959
p. 8
Hollywood Reporter
16 Nov 1959
pp. 3-4
Hollywood Reporter
19 Nov 1959
p. 5
Hollywood Reporter
20 Nov 1959
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
11 Dec 1959
p. 23
Hollywood Reporter
14 Dec 1959
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
24 Dec 1959
p. 16
Hollywood Reporter
31 Dec 1959
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
20 Jun 1960
p. 6
Hollywood Reporter
24 Jun 1960
p. 3
Harrison's Reports
16 Aug 1960
p. 2
LA Mirror-News
30 Oct 1959
---
Los Angeles Times
25 Oct 1959
Section I, p. 32
Motion Picture Herald Product Digest
2 Jul 1960
p. 755
New York Times
10 Apr 1955
---
New York Times
11 Oct 1959
---
New York Times
3 Jul 1960
---
New York Times
8 Jul 1960
p. 16
New York Times
27 Aug 1961
---
Variety
21 Oct 1959
---
Variety
28 Oct 1959
---
Variety
29 Jun 1960
p. 8
Variety
20 Jul 1960
---
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
2d unit dir
Asst dir
Asst dir
Asst dir
PRODUCER
WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photog
Cam op
Asst cam
Head grip
Gaffer
Best boy
ART DIRECTOR
Ed Carrere
Art dir
FILM EDITOR
Film ed
SET DECORATORS
Set dec
Prop master
COSTUMES
Cost des
MUSIC
Assoc mus supv
SOUND
Fred Brown
Sd eff ed
Mikeman
Cableman
MAKEUP
Robert Schiffer
Makeup
Makeup
Hairstylist
PRODUCTION MISC
Exec prod mgr
Dial coach
Scr supv
Unit pub
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the novel Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis (New York, 1927).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
SONGS
"Let Jesus Come into Your Heart," music and lyrics by Mrs. C. H. Morris; "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus," music by George J. Webb, lyrics by George Duffield; "Throw Out the Lifeline," music and lyrics by Edward S. Ufford; "Battle Hymn of the Republic," music by William Steffe, lyrics by Julia Ward Howe; "Onward Christian Soldiers," music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, lyrics by Sabine Baring-Gould; "Shall We Gather at the River," traditional; "I'm on My Way," composers undetermined.
SONGWRITERS/COMPOSERS
+
DETAILS
Release Date:
July 1960
Premiere Information:
World premiere in Los Angeles: 29 Jun 1960; New York opening: 7 Jul 1960
Production Date:
8 Sep--31 Dec 1959 at Columbia Studios and M-G-M Studios
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Elmer Gantry Productions
29 June 1960
LP16672
Physical Properties:
Sound
Color
Eastman Color
Widescreen/ratio
1.33:1
Duration(in mins):
145-146
Length(in feet):
13,204
Country:
United States
Language:
English
PCA No:
19593
SYNOPSIS

In the 1920s, Elmer Gantry entertains a group of fellow salesmen in a speakeasy with his ribald jokes and easy charm. When a Salvation Army worker enters, Gantry shocks and moves the crowd with an impromptu, impassioned sermon equating God with love. After collecting money from the patrons, Gantry takes a drunken barfly back to his hotel room. Despite his magnetism, Gantry remains penniless, and soon hops a train to avoid paying his hotel bill. There, a group of tramps steal his shoes and, to escape, he jumps off. Barefoot and filthy, Gantry enters an all-black church and soon wins over the crowd with his ardent singing. The minister, impressed with Gantry’s knowledge of scripture, offers him dinner and work, and within days Gantry is back to his traveling sales job. Although he fails to sell any more of his defective household appliances, in one town Gantry is captivated by a poster advertising Sister Sharon Falconer, a visiting evangelist. After attending her prayer meeting, Gantry attempts to speak to the wildly popular preacher, and upon being politely turned away, manages to seduce one of her troupe, naïve Sister Rachel, into divulging information about Sharon’s past appearances. Armed with this insider knowledge, Gantry follows the troupe onto a train for Lincoln, Nebraska and, after diverting Sharon’s protective manager, William L. Morgan, Gantry sits next to Sharon and claims to know her. Although the exhausted Sharon is wary of Gantry, she appreciates his earthiness and charisma, and agrees to meet him the next day at her tent. Also following Sharon’s troupe is cynical reporter Jim Lefferts, who respects Sharon’s talent but remains unconvinced of her authenticity or effectiveness in converting people ...

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In the 1920s, Elmer Gantry entertains a group of fellow salesmen in a speakeasy with his ribald jokes and easy charm. When a Salvation Army worker enters, Gantry shocks and moves the crowd with an impromptu, impassioned sermon equating God with love. After collecting money from the patrons, Gantry takes a drunken barfly back to his hotel room. Despite his magnetism, Gantry remains penniless, and soon hops a train to avoid paying his hotel bill. There, a group of tramps steal his shoes and, to escape, he jumps off. Barefoot and filthy, Gantry enters an all-black church and soon wins over the crowd with his ardent singing. The minister, impressed with Gantry’s knowledge of scripture, offers him dinner and work, and within days Gantry is back to his traveling sales job. Although he fails to sell any more of his defective household appliances, in one town Gantry is captivated by a poster advertising Sister Sharon Falconer, a visiting evangelist. After attending her prayer meeting, Gantry attempts to speak to the wildly popular preacher, and upon being politely turned away, manages to seduce one of her troupe, naïve Sister Rachel, into divulging information about Sharon’s past appearances. Armed with this insider knowledge, Gantry follows the troupe onto a train for Lincoln, Nebraska and, after diverting Sharon’s protective manager, William L. Morgan, Gantry sits next to Sharon and claims to know her. Although the exhausted Sharon is wary of Gantry, she appreciates his earthiness and charisma, and agrees to meet him the next day at her tent. Also following Sharon’s troupe is cynical reporter Jim Lefferts, who respects Sharon’s talent but remains unconvinced of her authenticity or effectiveness in converting people for longer than the few hours during which they remain in her thrall. Jim and Gantry are both present the next day to witness Sharon convince the Lincoln police that not only is the tent not a fire hazard, but that the city leaders need to oppose the attempts by local “whiskey slingers” to discredit her. Gantry, thoroughly impressed, tries to seduce Sharon into hiring him, but when he realizes that he cannot dupe her, informs her with only partially false sincerity that he wants to inspire sinners with the tale of his own moral redemption. Sharon allows him to speak, and she, Bill and Jim watch with awe as Gantry galvanizes the audience with his theatrical preaching about love, hellfire and deliverance. That night, Gantry attempts to kiss Sharon, prompting her to warn him that she is a true believer who will allow to him to remain only if he gives up drinking, smoking and carousing. Jim, who has overheard them, laughingly tells Gantry he could be “the most successful clown in the circus.” To Bill’s dismay, Jim’s words prove true, as Gantry brings his sensationalist style to Sharon’s ministry. As she preaches kindness and faith, he causes audience members to speak in tongues and beg forgiveness. Bill urges Sharon to fire Gantry, but she believes them a good pair, and is further convinced when they are invited to perform in Zenith, the biggest city in the Midwest. They meet with the Zenith church leaders, brought together by realtor George Babbitt. When many of the reverends express dismay at turning religion into a spectacle, Babbitt and Gantry counter that the churches must earn money to stay open, and Sharon’s visits convert hundreds. Although the committee eventually agrees, many of the reverends remain concerned. The revival enters town with huge fanfare, orchestrated by Gantry, and soon the rapidly growing ministry is running like a factory. Sharon is exhausted by the press attention and frightened of the cynicism and sophistication of the urbanites who picket her tent, but Gantry convinces her that the picketing mobs are the most in need of her salvation. Sharon’s solemn, quiet prayer wins over the crowd, and after the service, Gantry protects her from the now adoring fans. Jim, however, remains doubtful and embarks on a series of articles censuring the revival as a sham and revealing that neither Sharon nor Gantry has any credentials or must account for their earnings. Among the millions who read about the ministry is prostitute Lulu Bains, who as a teenager was thrown out of her house after Gantry seduced her by “ramming the fear of God into her.” Although the public turns with vicious fervor against Sharon and Babbitt withdraws his financial support, Gantry, armed with proof that Babbitt’s properties house illegal businesses, brings the businessman before Jim’s editor, Eddington. Sharon is already there, arguing with Jim, who is criticizing her for claiming to know with certainty what God wants. Gantry steps in, and after forcing Jim to admit that he is an atheist, convinces Eddington that this revelation could harm the newspaper. In response, Eddington allows Gantry broadcast time on his radio station, paid for by Babbitt. Although Sharon is thrilled by Gantry’s outrageous persuasiveness, when Gantry tries again to kiss her, she retorts that her only love is for God. Conciliating her gently, Gantry draws her into his arms. Within days, the city has embraced Gantry and Sharon as their spiritual leaders and Sharon, who is erecting a tabernacle nearby, is deeply in love with Gantry. One night, as a publicity stunt, he leads a group of reformers to raid a brothel, but when he recognizes Lulu among the arrested, Gantry convinces the police captain to release the girls. Soon after, Lulu asks Gantry to meet her at her hotel room. There, she and her pimp have arranged for a photographer to capture photos of her and Gantry embracing. When Gantry arrives, Lulu seduces him, but when he responds gently, she turns out the light so that no photograph can be taken. Gantry’s love for Sharon prompts him to rebuff Lulu, who turns the light back on. The resulting photographs of them kissing goodbye are sent to Sharon, who agrees, with a broken heart, to pay Lulu for the negative. At the brothel, however, Lulu, consumed with spite, refuses the money and gives the pictures to the press. Public opinion immediately turns against Gantry, and at the next service, a riot erupts. Jim, who turned down the opportunity to publish the photos, is there, as well as Lulu, who is horrified to see what she has wrought. She runs from the church, followed by Gantry, who later finds her being beaten by her pimp for refusing Sharon’s payment. Gantry rescues Lulu and holds her as she sobs. Later, Jim, who is surprised to realize that Gantry is truly religious, reveals that Lulu has announced in the press that she falsified the photographs. Although Gantry’s reputation is restored, he disappears, to Sharon’s dismay. Days later, as she prepares for her largest service ever, Gantry appears outside the tabernacle to ask her to run away with him. When she responds that she has been called by God, he realizes that she is consumed by her mission, and retreats sadly to the back of the church. Sharon’s sermon inspires a deaf man to beg for her to heal him, and to the horror of both Gantry and Jim, Sharon, now believing herself a living conduit of God, lays her hands on the man and “cures” him. Just then, a man with a lit cigarette starts a fire. As the flames consume the church, a mesmerized Sharon entreats the hysterical crowd to stay and trust God. Gantry tries to rescue her but she breaks away and runs into the flames, her church collapsing around her. By the morning, Jim and Gantry sit among the wreckage. The reverential crowd asks Gantry to forgive them, but he explains that Sharon still loves them, and leads them in a psalm. Although Bill offers Gantry control of the ministry, promising to rebuild, Gantry responds by quoting the Bible: “When I became a man, I put away childish things."

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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