The World's Greatest Sinner
Encyclopedia
The World's Greatest Sinner is a 1962
underground film written, directed and starring the character actor Timothy Carey
. The self-financed film tells the story of an average man, Clarence Hilliard (played by Carey), who quits his day job as an insurance salesman and forms a rock band. Finding that he can whip crowds into a frenzy with his wildly unhinged rockabilly performances, Clarence takes advantage of the attention by turning his fanbase into a political party and eventually a religious cult based on the premise that every man is a god. Ironically, Clarence finances the cult by graphically seducing elderly widows out of their life savings (The film is noted for its many sequences of Timothy Carey making out with old women). The more powerful Clarence becomes, the more egomaniacal and detached from reality he grows, eventually insisting upon being called God with a capital "G" (literally-- "God Hilliard") and having his followers worship him as such. Soon he personally challenges the God of the Bible to prove that Clarence himself is not the true Almighty. God obliges him.
The World's Greatest Sinner has never had an official release, though it has aired on the Turner Classic Movies basic cable channel. Martin Scorsese is one of the film's supporters, and has selected it in the past as one of his favorite Rock and Roll films of all time.
The film features a score composed by a young pre-Mothers of Invention Frank Zappa
. At about the same time, Zappa made a memorable appearance on The Steve Allen Show
, playing "a bicycle concerto" by plucking spokes and blowing through the handlebars. In the interview portion of the show, Zappa talked briefly about the movie and his soundtrack, even though the general public wouldn't have the opportunity to see the film he was talking about for another 50 years.
1962 in film
The year 1962 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May - The Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards are officially founded by the Taiwanese government....
underground film written, directed and starring the character actor Timothy Carey
Timothy Carey
Timothy Agoglia Carey was an American film and television actor....
. The self-financed film tells the story of an average man, Clarence Hilliard (played by Carey), who quits his day job as an insurance salesman and forms a rock band. Finding that he can whip crowds into a frenzy with his wildly unhinged rockabilly performances, Clarence takes advantage of the attention by turning his fanbase into a political party and eventually a religious cult based on the premise that every man is a god. Ironically, Clarence finances the cult by graphically seducing elderly widows out of their life savings (The film is noted for its many sequences of Timothy Carey making out with old women). The more powerful Clarence becomes, the more egomaniacal and detached from reality he grows, eventually insisting upon being called God with a capital "G" (literally-- "God Hilliard") and having his followers worship him as such. Soon he personally challenges the God of the Bible to prove that Clarence himself is not the true Almighty. God obliges him.
The World's Greatest Sinner has never had an official release, though it has aired on the Turner Classic Movies basic cable channel. Martin Scorsese is one of the film's supporters, and has selected it in the past as one of his favorite Rock and Roll films of all time.
The film features a score composed by a young pre-Mothers of Invention Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
. At about the same time, Zappa made a memorable appearance on The Steve Allen Show
Steve Allen (comedian)
Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, composer, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent...
, playing "a bicycle concerto" by plucking spokes and blowing through the handlebars. In the interview portion of the show, Zappa talked briefly about the movie and his soundtrack, even though the general public wouldn't have the opportunity to see the film he was talking about for another 50 years.