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THE WORLD’S GREATEST SINNER
A truly astounding early sixties artifact that remains frustratingly obscure. A one-of-a-kind exploration of sex, sin and religion, THE WORLD’S GREATEST SINNER was the magnum opus of Timothy Carey, one of Hollywood’s most eccentric provocateurs, and demands to be seen by all true cult movie buffs.
The Package
Timothy Carey remains best known as a supporting actor in movies as varied
as THE KILLING, PATHS OF GLORY, EAST OF EDEN, THE CONVERSATION, FAST-WALKING and
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE. Production on THE WORLD’S GREATEST SINNER,
written, produced, directed and headlined by Carey, was initiated in 1956 and
completed in 1963, a self-financed labor of love that met with extremely hostile
response from critics and audiences; indeed, a riot apparently ensued during its
premiere screening in Los Angeles!
That shouldn’t surprise, though, considering Carey’s
own statements regarding the film: “I was tired of seeing movies that were
supposedly ‘controversial’…so I wanted to do something that was really
controversial.” Cinematography was completed in part by future bad movie
auteur Ray Dennis Steckler (whose films would come to include THE INCREDIBLY
STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES, THE THRILL
KILLERS and RAT PFINK A BOO-BOO), along with the legendary B-movie impresario
Edgar G. Ulmer (whose opuses include the unforgettable thirties curio MANIAC).
The music was by a then-unknown Frank Zappa (who later branded it “the
world’s worst movie”).
Sadly, Timothy Carey’s WORLD’S GREATEST SINNER was to be the only
directorial effort by this lovably eccentric would-be auteur. Not that he
didn’t try other things: in 1968 Carey started production on something called
TWEET’S LADIES OF PASADENA (described as being about “a giant man-child who
roller-skates everywhere he goes” while “trying to clothe all the naked
and homeless animals in the world”), but the film was never completed. In
the nineties he attempted to stage a self-penned play called THE INSECT TRAINER
about a man who argues for the attributes of farting (apparently an obsession of
Carey’s). After a succession of strokes, however, Carey passed away in May of
1994, before the play got underway.
The Story
Clarence Hilliard is a seemingly contented everyman working for an
insurance firm. One day, however, he snaps: he renames himself God and embarks
on a religious crusade, guided by none other than the Big S (who in an early
voice-over enthusiastically dubs Hilliard “my greatest possibility since the
apple incident”). His message: there is no God but man himself. Hilliard
learns to play guitar, thus utilizing rock ‘n roll to preach his perverted
gospel, and gets an old lady to contribute money to his cause by seducing her.
There’s much more seduction to come as “God” uses his growing fame to bed a wide
variety of women…and not a few girls. He even mounts a run for president, with
the modest expectation of receiving “more votes than any other candidate in
history.”
Eventually, however, God Hilliard begins to sour on his crusade, and
decides to confront the possible reality of a higher being head-on…by
challenging the Big G to a fight! God responds, leading to Hilliard’s earthly
downfall and spiritual redemption in a mystical coda that I’m not sure I fully
understood.
The Direction
From a directorial standpoint this film is a wildly mixed bag, seeming like
a heavily improvised John Cassavettes drama at times (Cassavettes, appropriately
enough, was a huge admirer of the film) and at others like an AIP drive-in
exploiter. The head scratching finale, for its part, wouldn’t feel out of place
in a European art film. The editing is often laughably self-conscious and
Carey’s wildly uninhibited lead performance so inanely over-the-top it nearly
attains its own category. What links it all is the mercurial personality and
unwavering conviction of the film’s creator, who if nothing else definitely
managed to impart a uniquely personal, heartfelt vision. I don’t know that I
agree with those who proclaim this film “a masterpiece” or “one of the
most prophetic and groundbreaking films in cinema” (yes, those are actual
quotes), but will admit it’s an impossible-to-forget oddity that was light years
ahead of its time.
Vital Statistics
THE WORLD’S GREATEST SINNER
Frenzy Productions
Director/Producer/Screenplay: Timothy Carey
Cinematography: Frank Grande, Robert Shelfow, “Ove H. Sehested” (Edgar G.
Ulmer), Ray Dennis Steckler
Editing: Carl Makakian, Lee Strosnider
Cast: Timothy Carey, Gil Barretto, Betty Rowland, James Farley, Gail Griffen,
Grace De Carolis, Gitta Maynard, Gene Pollack, Whitey Jent, Carolina Samario,
Victor Floming, Ann Josephs, Jenny Sanchez, Paul Frees