''St. Benny the Dip'' is a 1951 American

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. The film is also known as ''Escape If You Can'' in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Plot

Benny, Monk, and Matthew are three small-time crooks trying to escape a police dragnet in New York City. After hiding in a church and taking minister's suits and dog collars, they emerge, dressed as priests, and find shelter in an abandoned

Bowery The Bowery () is a street and neighbourhood, neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York. The street runs from Chatham Square at Park Row (Manhattan), Park Row, Worth Street, and Mott Street in the south to Cooper Square at 4th ...

mission. When beat cops mistake them for real ministers sent to restore the

soup kitchen A soup kitchen, food kitchen, or meal center is a place where food is offered to Hunger, hungry and homeless people, usually for no price, cost, or sometimes at a below-market price (such as coin Donation, donations). Frequently located in Low i ...

, they are forced to go along with repairs, holding services and feeding the poor. They have to decide whether to stay, steal the mission money and run, or... change their lives. As with

Jean Valjean Jean Valjean () is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel ''Les Misérables''. The story depicts the character's struggle to lead a normal life and redeem himself after serving a 19-year-long prison sentence for stealing bread to feed his ...

in ''

Les Misérables ''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...

'', when the bishop he has robbed lets him go, it is the first time they have been treated with respect and had a chance to do good work. The question is whether the police detectives or junior priests will turn them in before they even have a chance.

Cast

* Dick Haymes as Benny * Nina Foch as Linda Kovacs * Roland Young as Matthew * Lionel Stander as Monk Williams *

Freddie Bartholomew Frederick Cecil Bartholomew (March 28, 1924 – January 23, 1992), known for his acting work as Freddie Bartholomew, was an English-American child actor who was very popular in 1930s Hollywood films. His most famous starring roles are in '' Cap ...

as Reverend Wilbur * Oskar Karlweis as Mr. Kovacs * William A. Lee as Police Sergeant Monahan * Dick Gordon as Reverend Miles * Jean Casto as Mrs. Mary Williams * Eddie Wells as Patrolman McAvoy * James Bender as House Detective * Ron & Don Ansell-Smyth as the Twins

Soundtrack

''I Believe''
Words and Music by Robert W. Stringer

External links

* * * 1951 films 1950s crime comedy films American black-and-white films American crime comedy films Films about con artists Films directed by Edgar G. Ulmer Films set in New York City Films shot in New York City United Artists films 1951 comedy films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films English-language crime comedy films {{1950s-US-comedy-film-stub