The Cross and the Switchblade

There are two audiences for this 1972 movie about the conversion of New York gang leader Nicky Cruz (Erik Estrada) by minister David Wilkerson (Pat Boone). One is made up of Christians who may find the story inspiring. The other, unhappily, will be composed of connoisseurs of le bad cinema looking for an alternative to the ever-popular Plan 9 from Outer Space. The former will overlook the picture's simplistic storyline, overheated dialogue, awful acting, and technical clumsiness in view of its uplifting message that redemption is possible even for the worst of us through exposure to the scripture's message of love. The latter, on the other hand, will embrace the defects as the very reasons for watching; you can almost hear aficionados mocking the lines as they cue up the DVD for another viewing. The picture is noteworthy as Estrada's debut—after all, he's become a humorous cult figure over the years—and the DVD includes high-minded recollections by Don Murray, who directed with a leaden hand, and an executive involved in its distribution. But while some may consider it a fine living sermon, most will find it a ludicrously bad movie. Not recommended. (F. Swietek)