{"id":72803,"date":"2021-06-12T18:20:09","date_gmt":"2021-06-13T01:20:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72803"},"modified":"2021-06-12T18:20:09","modified_gmt":"2021-06-13T01:20:09","slug":"hoodlum-priest-the-1961","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72803","title":{"rendered":"Hoodlum Priest, The (1961)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You can&#8217;t change a man by punishing him; you just build his hatred.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Poster-195x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-72804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Poster-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Poster-667x1024.png 667w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Poster.png 733w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA Jesuit priest (Don Murray) dedicated to supporting ex-cons helps a recently released prisoner (Keir Dullea) get a job at a produce market; but will Billy Lee (Dullea) stay straight and marry his sweetheart (Cindi Wood) or return to a life of crime?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do-Gooders<\/li>\n<li>Don Murray Films<\/li>\n<li>Ex-Cons<\/li>\n<li>Keir Dullea Films<\/li>\n<li>Priests and Ministers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAt the height of his stardom, actor Don Murray wrote, produced, and starred in this atmospherically shot narrative &#8212; directed by Irvin Kershner and filmed by DP Haskell Wexler &#8212; based on the life of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dismas_Clark\">Father Charles Dismas Clark<\/a>, who approached Murray about making a movie in order to raise money for a half-way house in St. Louis. While Murray faced numerous challenges in getting his film made (he was over-budget within a day), the film eventually earned a profit and rave reviews from critics, yet mysteriously fell under the radar due to a complex array of factors (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.riverfronttimes.com\/stlouis\/repudiated-upon-its-1961-release-by-the-tough-talking-clergyman-who-inspired-it-the-hoodlum-priest-remains-as-obscure-and-intriguing-as-ever\/Content?oid=2493304\">click here to read more<\/a>). <em>The Hoodlum Priest<\/em> remains overly earnest but visually engaging, and Dullea is notable in his breakthrough role. Meanwhile, the film certainly has its heart in the right place &#8212; like <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43945\"><em>I Want to Live!<\/em> (1958)<\/a>, it makes a compelling case against the horrors of capital punishment. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Capital-Punishment.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Capital-Punishment.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Capital-Punishment.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Capital-Punishment-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Capital-Punishment-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Capital-Punishment-432x270.png 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Strong performances by the leads<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Murray.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Murray.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Murray.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Murray-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Murray-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Murray-432x270.png 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Dullea.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Dullea.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Dullea.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Dullea-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Dullea-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Dullea-432x270.png 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine location shooting in St. Louis<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Location.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Location.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Location.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Location-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Location-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Location-432x270.png 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Haskell Wexler&#8217;s atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Cinematography.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Cinematography-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Cinematography-128x80.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Hoodlum-Priest-Cinematography-432x270.png 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s worth a one-time look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0054991\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.riverfronttimes.com\/stlouis\/repudiated-upon-its-1961-release-by-the-tough-talking-clergyman-who-inspired-it-the-hoodlum-priest-remains-as-obscure-and-intriguing-as-ever\/Content?oid=2493304\">RFT Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t change a man by punishing him; you just build his hatred.&#8221; Synopsis: A Jesuit priest (Don Murray) dedicated to supporting ex-cons helps a recently released prisoner (Keir Dullea) get a job at a produce market; but will Billy Lee (Dullea) stay straight and marry his sweetheart (Cindi Wood) or return to a life of crime? Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Do-Gooders Don Murray Films Ex-Cons Keir Dullea Films Priests and Ministers Review: At the height of his stardom,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72803\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72803"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72815,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72803\/revisions\/72815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}