The Cross and the Switchblade

Boone as David Wilkerson.

Based on the 1963 autobiography, The Cross and the Switchblade (1970) tells the true story of David Wilkerson (Pat Boone), a small-town Pennsylvania pastor who moves to New York City to minister to gang members and drug addicts amidst the violent, crime-ridden streets of the late 1960s. Facing intense hostility, Wilkerson attempts to bring a message of hope to rival gangs, specifically targeting the "Mau Maus" and their ruthless warlord, Nicky Cruz (Erik Estrada). Despite death threats and repeated rejections, the pastor's persistence and faith eventually lead to dramatic results. 

I first heard of The Cross and the Switchblade when the movie was shown for free at my junior high school. It wasn't a school-wide event, but rather the film was shown in the evening. I didn't go, but remember seeing the dramatic posters on bulletin boards throughout the school. It's taken me several decades to finally watch The Cross and the Switchblade, but I'm glad I did.

It's a flawed film, to be sure. It suffers from Pat Boone's too-perfect protagonist, whose only shortcoming is a lack of support for his pregnant wife—a plot point that is ultimately left dangling. Furthermore, the movie is hindered by bland, distracting, and dated songs. Actor Don Murray, in his directorial debut, lets the rumbles between the gangs go on for too long. And the screenplay could have been tighter had it focused on David or Nicky, instead of trying to tell both their stories.

Erik Estrada as Nicky.

Still, despite these weaknesses, The Cross and the Switchblade benefits from a fascinating true story, on-location filming in and around Harlem, and a handful of powerful scenes. The most impactful one has a young woman, who has recently gotten clean from her heroin addition, visiting a drug dealer at the first sign of stress. When she explains she has no money, her dealer assures her that the first fix is always on the house. He gleefully prepares her fix, shown in great detail, as she waits in emotional agony.

Pat Boone brings sincerity to his performance as Wilkinson, but I've got to think that the real pastor was more dynamic and more effective at delivering his message. In his first acting role, Erik Estrada, seven years before CHiPs, does a good job showing Nicky's inner struggles--although his climatic transformation still feels underdeveloped.

These days, The Cross and the Switchblade would be classified as a faith-based film. It fits that mold, but it's important to remember that these kinds of movies were rare in the early 1970s. No studio wanted to produce The Cross and the Switchblade, so it was financed independently. While not the ideal star, Pat Boone's enthusiasm for the project and his name recognition were undoubtedly key in getting the film made. On his website, Erik Estrada claims that "The Cross and the Switchblade...is still shown every week at about 500 youth centers across the country because of it’s powerful anti-drug message."