In the late 1960s , Gortner experienced a crisis of conscience about his double life . He decided his performing talents might be put to use as an actor or singer . When approached by documentarians Howard Smith and Sarah Kernochan , he agreed to let their film crew follow him throughout 1971 on a final tour of revival meetings in California , Texas , and Michigan . Unbeknownst to everyone involvedincluding , at one point , his fatherhe gave " backstage " interviews to the filmmakers between sermons and revivals , some including other preachers , explaining intimate details of how he and other ministers operated . The filmmakers also shot footage of him while counting the money he had collected during the day , later in his hotel room . The resulting film , '' Marjoe '' , won the 1972 Academy Award for best documentary
1972 Academy Award
45th Academy Awards
Marjoe Gortner