The Hoodlum Priest_
"The most fantastic story the screen has ever told AND IT'S TRUE right down to its last jolt!"
Venturing into some of the roughest slums of St. Louis, Jesuit priest Rev. Charles Dismas Clark dedicates himself to helping young ex-convicts who are struggling to rejoin a society that fears and rejects them. An especially wrenching case for the Reverend is Billy Lee Jackson, a troubled thief whose personal demons constantly tempt him back to a life of crime — and may ultimately make him pay the highest price for a few desperate decisions.
Starring
Don Murray, Larry Gates, Cindi Wood
Updated Feb 16, 2026
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Year context
The Hoodlum Priest was released 65 years ago in 1961.
Overview
Venturing into some of the roughest slums of St. Louis, Jesuit priest Rev. Charles Dismas Clark dedicates himself to helping young ex-convicts who are strugg...
The Hoodlum Priest is a Drama film with a runtime of 1h 41m.
CAST (11)
Don Murray
Father Charles Dismas Clark
Larry Gates
Louis Rosen
Cindi Wood
George Hale
Keir Dullea
Billy Lee Jackson
Logan Ramsey
George Hale
DJ
Don Joslyn
Pio Gentile
SC
Sam Capuano
Mario Mazziotti
VO
Vince O'Brien
Assistant District Attorney
WP
Warren Parker
Warden
SH
Sam Harris
Witness at Execution (uncredited)
RR
Roger Ray
Detective Shattuck
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Hoodlum Priest about?
Venturing into some of the roughest slums of St. Louis, Jesuit priest Rev. Charles Dismas Clark dedicates himself to helping young ex-convicts who are struggling to rejoin a society that fears and rejects them. An especially wrenching case for the Reverend is Billy Lee Jackson, a troubled thief whose personal demons constantly tempt him back to a life of crime — and may ultimately make him pay the highest price for a few desperate decisions.
How long is The Hoodlum Priest?
The Hoodlum Priest has a runtime of 101 minutes (1h 41m).
Who stars in The Hoodlum Priest?
The cast of The Hoodlum Priest includes Don Murray, Larry Gates, Cindi Wood, Keir Dullea, Logan Ramsey.
What is the rating of The Hoodlum Priest?
The Hoodlum Priest has a rating of 5.4 out of 10 based on 7 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama