The Hoodlum Priest (1961): Cast & Plot
The Hoodlum Priest is a 1961 drama directed by Irvin Kershner, starring Keir Dullea as Billy Lee Jackson, Don Murray and Larry Gates. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Director
- Irvin Kershner
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Murray-Wood Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Hoodlum Priest About?
The premise of The Hoodlum Priest without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Venturing into St. Louis' slums, Jesuit priest Rev. Charles Dismas Clark devotes himself to guiding young ex‑convicts as they try to reenter a society that shuns them. His most heartrending case is Billy Lee Jackson, a troubled thief whose inner demons repeatedly draw him back toward crime, threatening a grave price for desperate choices.
The Hoodlum Priest Cast & Characters
Keir Dullea leads the cast as Billy Lee Jackson, with Don Murray as Father Charles Dismas Clark and Larry Gates as Louis Rosen. Directed by Irvin Kershner; 9 actors are credited in all.
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Director Irvin Kershner
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Keir Dullea as Billy Lee Jackson - Don Murray as Father Charles Dismas Clark
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Larry Gates as Louis Rosen - Don Joslyn as Pio Gentile
Also Starring in The Hoodlum Priest
· 5 more- Logan Ramsey George Hale
- Warren Parker Warden
- Sam Capuano Mario Mazziotti
- Cindi Wood George Hale
- Vince O'Brien Assistant District Attorney
More from Irvin Kershner
More films directed by Irvin Kershner, best-rated first: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, A Fine Madness, Never Say Never Again and RoboCop 2.
The Hoodlum Priest Plot Summary
What happens in The Hoodlum Priest from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Father Charles Dismas Clark, a Jesuit priest in St. Louis, devotes his life to guiding delinquents and ex-convicts toward a path of rehabilitation. He meets people on their own terms, speaks their language, and earns their confidence and trust, believing that understanding their world is the key to helping them change. His main focus is a young thief named Billy Lee Jackson, recently released from the Missouri State Penitentiary, who is trying to find his footing after a hard life behind bars. With quiet persistence, Father Clark helps clear Billy of false charges and finds him an honest job at a produce market, giving him a chance to rebuild his life.
Full summary
The whole story of The Hoodlum Priest, scene by scene
The Hoodlum Priest Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Hoodlum Priest.
How Well Do You Know The Hoodlum Priest?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Father Charles Dismas Clark's profession?
Cars in The Hoodlum Priest
14 cars on screen, including the 1957 Chevrolet One-Fifty and the 1960 Buick Electra.
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1957 Chevrolet One-Fifty Important role -
1960 Buick Electra Minor role -
1956 Checker Taxicab Minor role -
1955 Chevrolet Task-Force 6400 Minor role
The Hoodlum Priest Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “Refugio de criminales” and “Le mal de vivre”.
- Also known as
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- Refugio de criminales
- Le mal de vivre
- Le canaglie dormono in pace
Seen The Hoodlum Priest?
The Hoodlum Priest FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Hoodlum Priest, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Hoodlum Priest?
The Hoodlum Priest runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was The Hoodlum Priest released?
The Hoodlum Priest was released on March 26, 1961.
Who directed The Hoodlum Priest?
The Hoodlum Priest was directed by Irvin Kershner.
More films by Irvin Kershner Who is in the cast of The Hoodlum Priest?
The Hoodlum Priest stars Keir Dullea as Billy Lee Jackson, Don Murray as Father Charles Dismas Clark and Larry Gates as Louis Rosen, among 9 credited actors.
Does The Hoodlum Priest have a post-credit scene?
No. The Hoodlum Priest has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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