‘You be the Critic’ features ‘Elmer Gantry’

The Oak Park Arms presents its popular series, “View and Review: You be the Critic,” at 3:30 p.m. Friday, October 14, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Avenue.

Hosted by radio announcer Dan Kane, “View and Review” features the 1960 Oscar winning movie, “Elmer Gantry,” starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones, and Arthur Kennedy. The film was written and directed by Richard Brooks.

Elmer Gantry is a fast talking, hard drinking traveling salesman who always has a risqué story and a hip flask to entertain cronies and customers alike. He is immediately taken with Sister Sharon Falconer, a lay preacher whose hellfire and damnation revivalism has attracted quite a following. Gantry uses his own quick wit and knowledge of the bible to become an indispensable part of Sister Sharon's roadshow but soon finds that his past catches up with him in the form of Lulu Bains, now a prostitute. While Gantry seeks and eventually gets forgiveness from Sharon, tragedy strikes when she finally manages to get out of her revivalist tent and opens a permanent church.

Following the film, Kane will lead a lively discussion.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent living and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The class is free and open to the public. For more information contact Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.