Description
(rock god or…) The World’s Greatest Sinner – 1962
After getting bored of his job, Clarence, an insurance agent, decides to become an evangelist. However, he faces a harsh reality after committing unruly acts. Unmissable!
Stars: Timothy Carey, Gil Barreto, Betty Rowland
Music composed by: Frank Zappa
Quality: 8.5/10, occasional tcm logo
Dir: Timothy Carey
Genre: Cult US Drama
Further reading:
*Carey’s greatest role was in a film he produced, wrote and directed himself, The World’s Greatest Sinner (1962), in which he played a rock ‘n roll-singing evangelist who, in a burst of hubris, names himself “God,” runs for President and is struck down by God himself at the film’s climax.
As Clarence Hilliard, the insurance salesman who drops out of straight society, starts his own evangelical religion (using rock ‘n roll music played by himself and a band featuring a woman saxophone player to whip up the crowds and manipulate the masses) and eventually runs for president, Carey fully realized his talent, a grind house, exploitation circuit John Gielgud assaying his Hamlet.
Filmed fitfully between 1958- 61 for a total cost of approximately $100-thousand (the shooting was sporadic, as the production kept running out of money), it remains one of the most notorious works in grind house cinema–even Elvis Presley himself asked Carey for a copy! (Carey, always in character as the Jester, refused The King’s request)
Format: DVD-r disc only in lined paper sleeve. Plays Worldwide
