Father Charles Dismas Clark ain't no square priest, you see. Once a Saint Louis University High School teacher and the unofficial patron saint of ex-cons, Clark defied convention and lived for his charitable work. He dreamed of opening the nation's first halfway house and employment agency, but lacked the necessary funds. After reaching out to movie star Don Murray, The Hoodlum Priest, the 1961 film based on Clark's ex-con outreach, was born. Initially a critical and commercial success, the film lost traction as local media and even Clark himself (who by then was in the early stages of dementia) denounced it, leaving it to languish in obscurity. Webster University Film Series revives the film for three screenings at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday (January 6 through 8) Webster University's Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood Avenue; 314-968-7487 or www.webster.edu/filmseries). Admission is $5 to $6. For more on the making of the film and its legacy, read Dennis Brown's fascinating feature story, "Forgive Me Father, For I Have Cinema'ed."
Jan. 6-8, 2012