Elmer Gantry (1960)

Directed by: Richard Brooks

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Based on the book by Sinclair Lewis. Elmer Gantry (Burt Lancaster) is a slick-talking, boozing salesman who falls for a evangelical revivalist named Sister Sharon Falconer (Jean Simmons) and joins up with the traveling church, using his sales techniques to boost conversions. But things get complicated when they start to set down roots in a larger midwestern town and Elmer’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of prostitute Lulu Baines (Shirley Jones.)

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): When we first see Lulu she is in a lushly decorated brothel with several other ladies-of-the-night. An orange tabby cat is sitting in the room as well (probably to make it clear that this is, indeed, a cathouse.)

Elmer Gantry - ginger tabby cat sitting with prostitutes in whorehouse

As Lulu rants about her former associations with Gantry, she makes one point by poking the cat who jumps off a cushion with a Poor Cat Screech.

Elmer Gantry - Lulu Shirley Jones talking near ginger tabby cat in whorehouse

Elmer Gantry - Lulu Shirley Jones poking finger at ginger tabby cat and scaring him off cushion animated gif

Later the women are sitting around the radio listening to a one of Elmer Gantry’s speeches. Lulu is giving the cat some milk in a dish.

Elmer Gantry - ginger tabby cat drinking milk from dish with Lulu Shirley Jones and prostitutes around radio

Elmer Gantry - ginger tabby cat drinking milk from dish with Lulu Shirley Jones near radio

She makes yet another statement by poking her finger in the cat’s face.

Elmer Gantry - ginger tabby cat drinking milk from dish with Lulu Shirley Jones pointing finger

Late in the film, Sister Sharon visits the brothel. The cat is sitting on top of an upright player piano when she enters.

Elmer Gantry - ginger tabby cat on top of player piano

Elmer Gantry - Sister Sharon Jennifer Jones entering whorehouse with ginger tabby cat on top of player piano

The cat lets out a screech and jumps down, knocking over several empty beer bottles and startling Sister Sharon. But look closely . . . the bottles are attached to a string which pulls them down at the same moment as the screech. The cat actor is actually startled by the bottles and then jumps down!

Elmer Gantry - Sister Sharon Jennifer Jones startled by ginger tabby cat knocking empty beer bottles off player piano animated gif

Moments later Sister Sharon sees the cat sniffing at the beer bottles and kneels down to pet him, her gentleness with the cat being in direct contrast to Lulu’s harsh treatment.