Hoodlum Priest (1961)

Based on the life of Fr. Charles Clark, a minister to street gangs.

Director:

Irvin Kershner

Writers:

Joseph Landon, Don Murray

Stars:

Don Murray, Larry Gates, Cindi Wood

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Murray	...	Father Charles Dismas Clark
Larry Gates	...	Louis Rosen
Cindi Wood	...	Ellen Henley
Keir Dullea	...	Billy Lee Jackson
Logan Ramsey	...	George Hale
Don Joslyn	...	Pio Gentile
Sam Capuano	...	Mario Mazziotti
Vince O'Brien	...	Assistant District Attorney
Al Mack	...	Judge Garrity
Lou Martini	...	Angelo Mazziotri
Norman McKay	...	Father Dunne
Joseph Cusanelli	...	Hector Sterne
Bill Atwood	...	Weasel
Roger Ray	...	Detective Shattuck
William Warford

Storyline

Based on the life of Fr. Charles Clark, a minister to street gangs.

---

Plot Keywords:

gas chamber | bare chested male bondage | execution | saint dismas | bare chested male | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hoodlum Priest

Filming Locations:

Jefferson City, Missouri, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Murray-Wood Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Concerned that the critics would not be kind to an actor appearing in a film he wrote, DON MURRAY penned the screenplay under the pseudonym "Don Deer", his nickname as a track and field athlete in High school (Rockaway, NY).

User Reviews

Don't dismiss this Dismas-inspired dish.

After having just viewed a nice sharp B&W 16mm theatrical print of this fine film, I must say; Don Murray's production of HOODLUM PRIEST really deserves to be given serious consideration by cinephiles looking for hard-hitting drama about an important social issue that still has relevance today. It surpassed my expectations for a film having a title better suited to cheaper exploitation fare. Even within a very tightly budgeted film, ace cinematographer Haskell Wexler was able to impart some really nice arty touches with seedy shadowy lighting schemes and the occasional off-kilter frame compositions. There were solid performances all around with the two standouts being Don Murray and Kier Dullea. Irvin Kirshner proves once again that he is quite a solid director with a marked talent for mixing heavy drama with realism. The near final scene in the prison is such a gut-wrenching experience, you'll feel as if you are really there witnessing a mind-numbing horror played so effectively by the young Dullea. So, please dismiss the weaker reviews here and seekout HOODLUM PRIEST, a real hidden gem.