The Leather Saint

The Leather Saint is a 1956 American drama film noir sport film, directed by Alvin Ganzer in black-and-white VistaVision, about a priest who boxes. It stars John Derek, Paul Douglas and Jody Lawrance.

Plot
Although he is a minister, the young Gil Allen likes to work out in Tom Kelly's boxing gym. Gus MacAuliffe, a manager of fighters who doesn't know the young man's true vocation, offers to find him a fight in the ring, but Gil declines.

Gil discovers that the church is desperate to raise funds for two things, a swimming pool for children and an iron lung for a hospital. Without disclosing his profession, Gil agrees to let Gus handle him, and Gil's first opponent is knocked out with a single punch. The impressed promoter Tony Lorenzo arranges another fight for the kid. Lorenzo's girlfriend, Pearl Gorman, a singer with a drinking habit, is immediately attracted to Gil, but when he doesn't reciprocate, she continues to hit the bottle. His superior at the church, Father Ritchie, mentions to Gil that someone mysteriously has donated the first down payment for the iron lung. Gil fibs to the priest that the donor is a well-meaning individual in "the leather business."

Gil's actual identity is discovered by Pearl, who is inspired by the young minister's example and vows to quit drinking. Gil raises all the money that's needed, then gladly returns to his preferred line of work.

Cast

 * Paul Douglas as Gus MacAuliffe
 * John Derek as Father Gil Allen
 * Jody Lawrance as Pearl Gorman
 * Cesar Romero as Tony Lorenzo
 * Ernest Truex as Father Ritchie
 * Richard Shannon as Tom Kelly
 * Ricky Vera as Pepito
 * Robert Cornthwaite as Dr. Lomas
 * Edith Evanson as Stella
 * Lou Nova as Tiger
 * Baynes Barron as Tony's Henchman

Production
The film was originally about a Catholic priest. However Catholic groups objected due to the romance subplot so the script was adjusted and the main character became an Episcopalian priest instead.