The Hoodlum Priest (1961)

Perhaps if the halfway house the Hoodlum Priest envisioned as a way of diverting ex-cons away from criminality and recidivism had been built in time, Keir Dullea wouldn't have died in Missouri's gas chamber in one of most memorable execution scenes ever. The movie starts with Dullea's release from prison and reunion with a former partner in crime. They plot a robbery of a St. Louis strip joint in a seedy part of the city. Don Murray as the Hoodlum Priest offers another avenue for Dullea, and it looks good for him after he meets the daughter of one of the city's wealthy families at a cool poolside party where Murray solicits contributions for the nation's first halfway house from St. Louis's wealthy matrons. Pushing the other side of the agenda is not law enforcement but a newspaper reporter who's job is to sensationalize crime in order to sell more papers and generate ad revenue. It's all well-captured and presented, though a bit preachy at times, in authentic scenes from the streets of St. Louis by should-be-better-known director Irvin Kershner.

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.

While a very good film, the picture falls into the trap of trying to depict the horrors of capital punishment. This has been shown so much in the past and present.Don Murray's performance, while good, could make you easily forget that he was a priest. To say that he was sympathetic to convicts is to put it mildly. This was definitely his calling. The first scene of the film, he appears to be a gangster himself; especially, when he is offered a 1/3 in a proposed heist.Keir Dulleas was excellent here and was robbed of a best supporting Oscar nomination here. His death-row scene with his girlfriend was so reminiscent of Monty Clift with Elizabeth Taylor in "A Place in the Sun," 10 years before. Are the Dullea character and others victims of society, rather than perpetrators of crime?

I first saw this film on T.V. when I was around 12 years old. It made a lasting and powerful impression. I remember actually sobbing at the end. The performances by both Don Murray and Keir Dullea were riveting. I've always been sorry that both actors had only a handful of truly great roles to play because they were/are capable of much more than they have been allowed to show us. Whenever I notice this film is appearing on T.V., I usually tune in. If you've never seen it or haven't seen it for a long time, watch for a chance to view it. I think you'll be moved by it.