1956's "The Leather Saint" became one of the oddest footnotes in the 20 year history of Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater, appearing Feb 21 1970, preceding second feature 1962's "The Brain," during a season where straight titles alternated with more typical genre fare. A rarely seen, long forgotten Paramount programmer, John Derek stars as an Episcopalian priest who decides to resume his college boxing career as a lucrative sideline to finance an iron lung and swimming pool for the polio-stricken children of his congregation.
In "The Leather Saint", an Episcopal minister, Gil Allen (John Derek), decides to box in the ring in order to bring much needed funds to his parish and to fund their hospital. After all, the story was made during the height of the polio epidemic and iron lungs and rehabilitation equipment is expensive.
Better than expected drama with a bit of a twist.John Derek, impressively fit for a man of God, plays a young minister who while mixing it up in the local gym is spotted by fight promoter Paul Douglas who proposes he set up some fights for him.
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