The Leather Saint (1956) DVD-R

Starring Paul Douglas, John Derek, Jody Lawrence, Cesar Romero, Richard Shannon
Directed by Alvin Ganzer

Print: black/white
Runtime: 86 min.
Genre: drama
Print Quality: B

Episcopalian minister Gil Allen (John Derek) keeps up his college days interest in boxing by
working out at a gym run by his friend, Tom Kelley (Richard Shannon.) Gil declines when
fight manager Gus McAuliffe (Paul Douglas) offers to get him some bouts but, spurred by
the need for a new iron lung and a swimming pool in his community, Gil takes on a fight,
without disclosing his true profession, and knocks out his opponent with one punch. This
impresses Pearl Gorman (Jody Lawrence), girl friend of fight promoter Tony Lorenzo (Cesar
Romero.) Pearl was a promising singer until her fiance, a boxer, died in the ring but is now
on the bottle. She drinks more heavily when Gil ignores her. Gil is about to quit boxing but
when Father Ritchie (Ernest Truex) informs him that a down payment has already been
made on the iron lung, he continues. He explains his winnings from his fights to Father
Ritchie as donations from a friend in the leather business. Pearl learns his true identity and,
through his influence, quits drinking. Gil one-punches his way to enough wins to pay off the
iron lung and build a swimming pool for the Boys Club---girls couldn't swim in 1956---and the
only surprise in this overdose of sweetness is that Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald didn't
show up for the swimming pool dedication.