- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,424
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
I had huge concerns about Elmer Gantry, a film that I love. Richard Brooks adapted the novel by Sinclair Lewis about scandal in the evangelist community -- a huckster involving himself in religion, and not being precisely what his congregants imagined him to be.
This is, of course, fiction. It would never occur in life.
I've always been a huge fan of both Mr. Lancaster, as well as Ms Simmons, and they're in superb form in Gantry. Every-sweet Shirley Jones plays way against type.
Released in mid-1960, Gantry should have been shot on the final vestige of Eastman 5248, which means it should be extremely problematic.
One must wonder what's up.
Color, with the exception of a handful of shots, is generally quite good, and sometimes superb. MGM seems to have pulled a rabbit out of a hat with this one. Whether derived from sep masters, with the work performed transparently, or from a great IP, the film looks terrific.
Grain structure appears normal, shadow detail, black levels all work nicely.
Audio, which is DTS is also very, very nice.
While the opening credits sport some nice hairline scratches, apparently from wear, that have not been attended to, the rest of the film comes across as non-problematic.
A wonderful film, and a brave one to make for the era.
Image - 4 (dealing with the scratches would have raised it to 4.5)
Audio - 5
Pass / Fail - Pass
Highly Recommended
RAH