St. Benny the Dip is a 1951 American musical comedy film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer. The film is also known as Escape If You Can in the United Kingdom.
Benny, Monk and Matthew are three small-time crooks trying to escape a police dragnet in New York City. After hiding in a church, they disguise themselves as ministers and find shelter in an abandoned Bowery mission. The police mistake them for real ministers sent to restore the soup kitchen, and the men must decide whether to stay, steal the mission money and run or change their lives.
The film was originally planned as a Nassour brothers production, with Marlon Brando, Louis Calhern and Roland Young cast in the three leading roles. Brando, following his strong notices for A Streetcar Named Desire, commanded the largest salary ever paid to a newcomer for a film role and was granted final approval of director and script. However, by 1950 the film project had been converted from a straight dramatic subject to a musical comedy and the Danziger brothers became the producers.
Wanda Hendrix, Julie Harris, Geraldine Brooks and Beatrice Pearson were each considered for the lead female role. The inability to cast the role caused a delay in production, forcing Gene Lockhart, who had been cast for a prominent role, to withdraw. Nina Foch was announced as the female lead in May 1950.
The film was shot on location in New York.
The film's score was written and conducted by Robert Stringer and performed by the 110-piece Paris Symphony Orchestra.
Star Dick Haymes, a singer, wrote two of the film's songs.