St. Benny the Dip

Komedie, USA, 1951, 80 min.



After swindling a wealthy gentleman in a card game, three con men, Matthew, Monk and Benny, escape the police by ducking into a cathedral for cover. Shortly after, the police arrive and question the sage Reverend Miles in his chambers about the men, but Miles answers in euphemisms, distracting the police from noticing the three cons as they sneak out the cathedral dressed as clergy. Now on the run, the con men muse about why they have chosen this life. Young and dapper Benny is in it for "kicks" while thuggish Monk is trying to forget the girl he left behind. Suddenly a police whistle is heard and the men run into an abandoned building, previously the Clover Street Mission. Though the police are searching for two young boys suspected in a robbery, they instead find the three con men in ministers' clothing in a room full of sleeping derelicts. The con men convince the police that they are there to do good deeds and, in an effort to prove their sincerity, Benny escorts one of derelicts, Mr. Kovacs, home. At the house Benny meets the man's daughter Linda, who teases the flirtateous Benny that he must be a newly ordained minister. Meanwhile Miles and his naďve pupil, Reverend Wilbur, spend the night looking for the three con men. The police arrive at the mission early the following morning and offer money collected at the station house and bring volunteers to help with the renovation of the mission. After the police leave, Monk and Benny try to convince Matthew, the oldest of the three, to take the money and run, but Matthew appreciates the new respect and they decide to stay temporarily. Outside Linda passes by and Benny jumps to meet her. When she asks him why he is rehabilitating the mission, he replies, "God is everywhere you find him." The night after the mission is reopened, the con men confide in each other that they feel trapped by the obligation to the mission and the generosity of the community. Later Monk hears noise in the rafters and discovers the two young thieves the police were chasing the previous night. He returns to the mission visibly upset and explains to Benny that he is sentimental about children because he worries about the two sons he has left behind. Outside in the rain Wilbur incessantly asks Miles how they will find the con men among the millions of people in the city, but Miles has faith they will succeed. The next day Linda passes by again and Benny asks her out, but, when he arrives at Linda's that evening and finds her boyfriend at the door as well, he secretly steals his wallet. The boyfriend heads for home after finding his wallet missing and Linda finally comes to the door. Linda reveals that she saw Benny stealing, but the two dismiss it and go out for drinks. After a night of drinking together Linda expresses her wish to be a housewife, while Benny admits that he is a drifter, which causes Linda to cry. Benny responds by demanding to know what they should do now and Linda suggests marriage, but Benny refuses and leaves abruptly. Meanwhile Miles and Wilbur have discovered the con men's location and, without revealing the con men's ruse, ask the police to donate a Bible to them anonymously. Days later at the mission Matthew reads the new Bible aloud to the reformed clean-shaven derelicts. Benny then bursts into a solo, captivating everyone. Despite the mission's success, the con men decide it is time to move on. Monk visits his old girl friend, Mary Williams, and their children, and though she is wary, Monk asks to be a part of their lives again. At the mission an older derelict entrusts his savings to Matthew, who accepts the money. The next morning, just as Matthew packs up his belongings to leave the mission, having purposely left the money under the pillow, Miles and the police arrive. Though Matthew is guilty of many crimes, Miles believes he has atoned for his sins through his honesty and by running the mission. At Linda's office, meanwhile, Benny argues that he is not good enough for her and Linda orders him to marry her, then locks Benny in the room. They fight for the key and Linda begins to cry. Unable to endure her crying he promises to do anything to stop the tears. Linda grabs him for a kiss, giving him the key, but Benny throws it away and they continue their embrace.
Uprav informace o filmu

Režie: Edgar G. Ulmer
Herci: Dick Haymes, Nina Fochová, Roland Young, Lionel Stander, Freddie Bartholomew, více...

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