MovieChat Forums > Elmer Gantry (1960) Discussion > This is Lancaster's film all the way

This is Lancaster's film all the way


They can try a remake but they ain't gonna find another Burt Lancaster. How about Gary Busey? He has the grin and teeth for it. LOL

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Gary? No way!

I’d have to go with Leo or Brad, but neither would come close to matching Burt’s performance.

What surprised me the most about Burt was his singing voice. Not too shabby!

I just watched it on TCM and was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was better than “The Apartment” (That won the Oscar for best picture.) Also Jean and Arthur should have been nominated. But that was the year the voters overlooked “Psycho” and “Spartacus”.

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Yep, this was Lancaster at very best. One of the best performances ever. You don't tinker with perfection but it was a great story and need to be seen. A remake may put more light on the original and specially Lancaster's performance. Though, I think every actor will (should) be intimated by the benchmark lancaster has set.

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Lancaster knew what qualities to convey at the right moments. Fast talking and smug when deceiving, painfully sincere and wearing his heart on his sleeve when raw emotions showed. Keeping with performances, nothing can be taken away from Jean Simmons who knew exactly when to strike emotional chords.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

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I loved Burt in this film but please don't take anything away from Shirley Jones. Her performance was excellent, and man was she ever hot! Now I know why Shirley Partridge made me feel funny when I was a kid.....

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I've never liked Shirley Jones before. Maybe it was the type of roles she played: Oklahoma, Music Man, etc. But, after watching this film, I've changed my opinion. She was great and deserved her Oscar.

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Didn't Busey play a similar part in a Tales from the Crypt episode?

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don't remake this classic.

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