St. Benny The Dip; Escape Me If You Can

2233. ST. BENNY THE DIP (ESCAPE ME IF YOU CAN) (1951-USA). WITH DICK HAYMES, NINA FOCH, ROLAND YOUNG, LIONEL STANDER, FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW. DIRECTED BY EDGAR G. ULMER. AIL-TIME-GREAT CULT DIRECTOR ULMER (WHOM ANDREW SARRIS HAS CALLED “ONE Of THE MINOR GLORIES Of THE CINEMA”) JOINS FORCES WITH AN ECLECTIC CAST FOR THIS CONGENIAL AND THOROUGHLY HEARTWARMING BIT Of WHIMSY. IT’S THE STORY Of A TRIO Of CHISELERS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN A CHURCH WHILE MAKING A NARROW ESCAPE FROM THE POLICE. IN ORDER TO AVOID CAPTURE, THEY DON PRIESTS’ GARB AND GO INCOGNITO. THESE “DISGUISES” LEAD TO THEIR ENCOUNTERING SOME UNUSUAL SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN A FRIENDLY IRISH COP COMES TO THINK THEY ARE PLANNING TO REFURBISH AND RE-OPEN A BOWERY MISSION. THERE’S ROMANCE ALONG THE WAY FOR ONE Of THE CROOKS, BENNY (PLAYED BY CROONER DICK HAYMES), WHEN HE MEETS AND RELUCTANTLY BECOMES INVOLVED WITH A CHIC ILLUSTRATOR. BY THE WAY, DENNY’S CRONIES ARE PERÂFECTLY PLAYED BY A PAIR Of TOP CHARACTER ACTORS. ROLAND YOUNG IS AMUSING AS MATTHEW WHILE COMICALLY GRUFF LIONEL STANDER IS IN HIS ELEMENT AS MONK. SOME NIFTY ON-LOCATION FILMING ON THE STREETS Of LITTLE OLD NEW YORK ADDS ATMOSPHERE TO THIS CHARMING STORY Of HOW A TRIO Of SINNERS BECOME SAINTS. 82 MINUTES. COMEDY