The Leather Saint

Better than expected drama with a bit of a twist.

John Derek, impressively fit for a man of God, plays a young minister who while mixing it up in the local gym is spotted by fight promoter Paul Douglas who proposes he set up some fights for him. Of course Douglas is oblivious to Derek's vocation since John is in boxing trunks and he demurs. But when the need arises for both a community swimming pool and an iron lung!! Father John pitches in with his fists while fending off the advances of a dipsomaniac songstress!

If it all sounds rather soapy it could be if it weren't for the performances of Derek and the always reliable Paul Douglas. They keep a lid on the schmaltzy aspects of the scripts by not overselling their parts. The director also wisely keeps the pace brisk over the short running time. It's not art but considering the implausibility of the story it's better than it should be.