"Hollywood Priest" Blends Grace with Glamour

Maria V. Gallagher highlights a documentary about a priest who changed Hollywood. Find out how you can view it on public television this month!

When I heard the title of the documentary, I knew I could not pass it up.

Hollywood Priest lives up to its billing, blending grace and glamour in a way that inspires and fascinates.

A cavalcade of Hollywood stars shine brightly in this film, which showcases the work of Father Elmer “Bud” Kaiser, a charismatic cleric who became a highly respected producer in the Golden Age of television.

His story is told, in part, through interviews with a “Who’s Who” of actors, including Bob Newhart, Marion Ross, Martin Sheen, and John Amos. They paint an intimate portrait of the man who would come to be known as the Super Priest.

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Fr. Kaiser arrived in Los Angeles in 1956 and launched an “inquiry” class on the Catholic faith which attracted people throughout the greater LA area. His preaching became the basis of a television program called “Insight,” which eventually morphed into a series which featured dramatic presentations meant to elevate and enlighten.

An anthology series similar in format to The Twilight Zone, Insight was soon referred to as the “Cadillac of religious programs.” The insightful scripts tackled some of the hot button issues of the day, including the Vietnam War and Civil Rights.

With his imposing six-foot, six-inch frame and his deep baritone, Fr. Kaiser convinced a roster of Hollywood luminaries to take part in the writing, production, and staging of faith-filled television dramas. To this day, these stars marvel at what the creative clergyman was able to accomplish.

In later years, Fr. Kaiser faced new challenges. The Federal Communications Commission changed its rules so that television stations were less likely to offer commercial-free religious programming. He also encountered competition from Protestant televangelists who were willing to pay for air time.

Consequently, Fr. Kaiser turned his attention to film, mounting the impressive cinematic masterpiece Romero, a feature about El Salvador’s Archbishop Oscar Romero, a martyr for the faith. The film was a true artistic tour de force, highlighting the life and death of an advocate for the poor.

The documentary also demonstrates the powerful impact of Fr. Kaiser’s trip to Africa, where he saw first-hand the suffering of starving multitudes in Ethiopia and Somalia. The expedition enkindled within Fr. Kaiser a renewed compassion for the most vulnerable.

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Hollywood Priest does not shy away from the temptation faced by Fr. Kaiser during his life. But, in the end, the priest remained committed to his calling, giving up the chance to marry in order to remain faithful to the Catholic priesthood.

Fr. Kaiser embodied the Vatican II spirit of engaging with the world, evangelizing through entertainment. As a result, he serves as a model of what Christianity in action can look like.

The documentary is fast-paced and entertaining, making it highly watchable. In a sense, you can see how Fr. Kaiser’s work foreshadowed the faith-based film movement we see today. It is hard to imagine The Chosen, for instance, without the priest’s trailblazing efforts.

With so much darkness consuming society, it can be tempting to turn our backs and become insular. But Fr. Kaiser demonstrated how we need to reach out in love to others—even to those who are very different from ourselves. We can provide the bridge that enables them to embrace a more fulfilling life.

Hollywood Priest may chronicle the past, but it also offers us a blueprint for our future—if only the creatives among us are willing to use our gifts to inspire the world.

American Public Television began releasing Hollywood Priest to PBS stations across the country this month. Check your local public television listings to watch this film with your family.

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