Ministers of America railed against "Elmer Gantry" when it debuted on Sept. 1, 1960. Sinclair Lewis' scorching expose of a firebrand, booze-swilling preacher (Burt Lancaster) with a sinful past had been the bestselling book of 1927, but Hollywood studios resisted turning it into a movie for 33 years, fearful of backlash from religious conservatives.

But the film version of "Elmer Gantry" received hallelujah reviews even though it softened Lewis' satire. The New York Times said the "justifiably controversial novel (was) impressively transformed into an exciting film. The briskly paced drama of a religious opportunist, his colleagues and his times utilizes the tools of the motion picture in expert fashion . . . . Lancaster has one of his fattest roles and one to which he gives outstanding service."

At Oscars time, "Elmer Gantry" received five nominations, including best picture (it lost to "The Apartment"), and won three: best actor (Lancaster), supporting actress (Shirley Jones) and adapted screenplay (Richard Brooks). The latter prize was Brooks' consolation for being shut out of a nomination for best director, an award he was nominated for three times during his career: "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958), "The Professionals" (1966) and "In Cold Blood" (1968). Brooks received bids for helming "Gantry" from DGA and the Golden Globes. "Gantry" was also nominated for best drama picture at the Globes where Lancaster won best drama actor.

In the best-actor slugfest at the Oscars, Lancaster knocked out Spencer Tracy ("Inherit the Wind"), Trevor Howard ("Sons and Lovers"), Jack Lemmon ("The Apartment") and Laurence Olivier ("The Entertainer"). In the diva smackdown over supporting actress, Jones' role as a shady lady triumphed over Janet Leigh ("Psycho"), Mary Ure ("Sons and Lovers"), Shirley Knight ("The Dark at the Top of the Stairs") and Glynis Johns ("The Sundowners").