Glory! Glory!

I think this was made for HBO during a time of huge scandals in televangelism. It has the same consistency of an HBO movie: unsubtle, poorly acted, and generic. It's not a bad movie, especially for that origin. However, when a director like Anderson has directed it, I expected a little better. The direction is so bad, though, it's truly, truly embarrassing. The film is about a failing evangelist who hires a sexy singer to spice up his services. She steals the show from him. I don't know, I couldn't finish it. Like I said, it's not awful, but I just figured that life was too short to watch something so unaccomplished. Plus, Christian rock, which is abundant in the film, is the second worst genre of music on the planet, right after Christian ska.

P.S. If you're looking for this, it actually has been on VHS before, despite what previous comments have said. Orion put it out. I found it in my library system. But, really, you don't want to see this, at least if you're a fan of Lindsay Anderson. Only if you're a completist, but it's just an embarrassment.

This 1989 HBO movie is one of my all-time favorites. This is about a televangelist who dies and leaves his "ministry" to his less than exciting son, played by Richard Thomas. James Whitmore is absolutely brilliant as the ministry's CFO and overall manager. With the ministry going down the tubes with Thomas at it's head, he stumbles across a rock performer (Ellen Greene) who is well into sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. He convinces her to come and perform at his services - which she agrees to when she discovers he is syndicated across the country. She becomes Sister Ruth and steals the entire show. The film unfolds from this premise into a truly hysterical satire of the entire televangelist communities. I crack up every time I watch this - and must say that the music and performances of Ellen Greene are great! The movie was originally presented in two parts for a total running time of 3 hours, 18 minutes. I, too, have tried in vain to find it commercially released. I DID find a VHS version of it on E-Bay, but they cut the film almost in half to fit on one VHS, so I didn't bother. I am very glad I taped it at the time it was aired, so I DO have the entire film on an old VHS tape. Not the greatest quality, but watchable. I just recently converted it to DVD to archive it before the tape turns to dust! Hopefully, HBO will actually release this gem some day on DVD! But if you get a chance to see it, don't pass it up!

As noted by the first three reviewers (ironically, all of them from Oklahoma... clearly a state that recognizes great films), "Glory! Glory!" is truly special. The late, great director Lindsay Anderson solidified his well-deserved reputation as a master of satire with this entry.

Unfortunately, "Glory! Glory!" has never been released on either VHS or DVD. A pity, because the writing, acting and overall production are positively brilliant. Never too heavy-handed, it makes solid points about the business of televangelism and how it is no different from any other aspect of showbiz. Backroom deals of all types are cut, individuals act in self-serving ways that contradict the "holy mission" they claim to represent, people manipulate, control and abuse one another ... and that's just on the surface!

Did I mention that this is achieved with a wry, light-hearted touch? Presenting this potentially inflammatory material in such tongue-in-cheek fashion prevents it from descending into a lecture. The viewer will find himself laughing out loud much of the way. A real bonus is that the music is also top rate and never intrusive; when we hear a song, it is part of the overall story and thus propels it forward.

Richard Thomas and Ellen Greene are standouts. Both infuse their characters with a depth that allows us easy access to their individual strengths and weaknesses. That being said, in my estimation James Whitmore's performance as Lester Babbitt runs away with the show. Sublime and outrageous simultaneously, it is the stuff of legend. A consummate character actor, Whitmore has never been finer.

If you ever get the opportunity to see this, drop everything else and make it top priority. You will indeed be rewarded.

Televangelists are fair game, but the subject is seldom handled with as much wit or salty glee as it is here. Bobby Joe can't quite seem to get the hang of it, he doesn't have his Daddy's gift. But when he sees Ruth (Ellen Greene) singing in a bar - and moving the audience - he gets an idea: use her to sell Jesus! Ruth has her own ideas, including the ever-popular sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. What she doesn't expect is a genuine conversion...Or that her affairs will suddenly become public.

The cast is terrific, especially James Whitmore (who steals every scene he's in) with the exception of Ruth's lover, the newsman. It's a conventional role, but the actor doesn't bring much to it. In the minor role of Whitmore's henchman, Vincent, Mr. Buza is so good he deserves his own movie...

This is not for the soberly fundamentalist, but all the rest of you will have a good time.

I can still remember watching this film back in 1989 - I was blown away by the vocal of Ellen Greene - The acting in this little know movie was great. The timing of this films release could not have been any better as it co-insided with the headlines of the day. Tel-evanglists were in the spot light and this made light of them, but also provided insight in to what can happen when you believe in yourself and others around you.

I have been trying to purchase a copy of this film since 1989 with out success. This movie is well worth your time to see and hear. The vocals of Ellen Greene are simple breathtaking.