They were not crooks but it was gambling. Basically a church member gambles part of a church fund and the pastor and parishioner help the police close down the gamblers. Then they take money from the final apprehension to put back in the church fund which I always thought odd. It was funny a thing at the time.

Naive pastor Reverend Michael Hill takes the helm of the North Avenue Presbyterian church in the town of New Camden. He is outraged when a drunk idiot parish volunteer bets the church's $1200 sinking fund on a horse which loses.Instead of placing blame where it belongs - on the volunteer and on himself for entrusting the money to the imbecile's wife, Hill chooses to take it personally and wage a moral crusade against organized gambling in the town.There really isn't a way to excuse the directing of bored, compliant people to crusade against perceived vice any more than there is a way to excuse organized crime gaming rackets.Hill correctly points out that gambling drains wealth from communities. But multiple people also point out to him that different channels are available for him to fight vice rather than organizing a bunch of busybodies to follow people around putting themselves and innocent people in harm's way.Many a clergyman has used grandstanding against vice as an ego trip and a way to fill his collection plate. The one depicted here appears obsessed with a single moment in which he allowed himself to be victimized by an incompetent - the same kind of which he utilizes to follow around criminal bagmen. We are evidently meant to see him as a well-meaning true believer. But it really is ego bordering on narcissism.Church is separate from state and from law in modern countries mainly because of the excesses it has displayed in dabbling in each in the past with horrific results.A film like this is clearly intended for kids but not to educate them.

huh? is that a bear in the back of Barbra Harris's station wagon? this is a pretty kooky, quirky little Disney comedy that is pure, wholesome Disney fun with a little social comment thrown in as well.this family comedy was made at a time when a mainstream film was not embarrassed by having good, wholesome Christian and family values. but despite some good Christian messages, this is not really a movie about Chritianity or the Church really, it's actually a film about average, American middle class nobodies attempting to make a difference in their mostly ordinary world. in a sense the Church is only a kind of metaphor, if you want, of the soul and spirit of the average American.the message of this film is true social commentary. it's about average people fighting back against local corruption that even goes as high as the city office (whoa think about it). pretty intense for usually non-committal Disney fare. but there is no heavy handed commentary and it's done with a EXTREMELY light weight touch. but it's simple little message is clear, the average person can make a difference. even if you are a housewife and church lady.this is also a film with a mild feminist message. these Church ladies are no mere Stepford wives, they are as resourceful as any gal from 'The First Wives Club'. their resilient strength is evident in the hilarious opening scene where the ladies save the church maintenance man after he falls off his ladder and is left hanging on to the Church roof. scene after scene of incompetence, but these ladies keep on coming and are determined to get the job done.most of this film is just mildly amusing, but it is capable of some truly hilarious moments at times. like where the cop yells at Barbra Harris to pull her station wagon over to the side of traffic and instead she evades arrest by driving her family wagon onto the sidewalk and peels away. the ending crash up at the crook's money bank and hide-out is also, ahem, a total crack-up.there's nothing to offend the puritanical or prudish because this is so obviously 'G' rated family fare. and very respectful of the Church. the only things that might unnerve are a scary Church bombing and scenes of child endangerment when the ladies race around in their family wagons with babies and little children in the back seat.this movie is also a little more off the cuff then you would think. i mean little miss goody two shoes Karen Valentine going under cover as a trampy lady and Ruth Buzzi as the "Ecumenical Enchantress" is going a little out there. and is that a BEAR in the back of the mom's station wagon when she's taking all the kids and their pets to the pet show?!this is not a great movie or even a great classic Disney film, but it is a good movie and a very funny one. and it's message is a constructive one, YOU can make a difference if you put your mind to it. and also with a little help from your friends.

This is one Disney film I liked very well. When I was in New York, I remembered the trailer, straight out. I liked the way the characters were played. And the action was violent, especially the crash scenes, it was not bad. Cloris Leachman did very well in her role as Claire Porter. She was a total riot throughout the movie. All the irregulars had to take action against the crooks was a wing and a prayer. And a thumbs up for each other. Armed with walkie talkies, the odds were in their favor. The one scene I didn't like is when the church caught fire. Ealier I liked the chase scene between the van and the car. The van took one jump and the car did a pop-wheelie. Then I liked where the other group mistook the railroad tracks for a short cut. Then there's the fight scene between the irregulars, and the robbers. Clarie was on the edge when the bad guys messed up her manicure. Is that a little overdoing it? Not by Claire! The "bumpercar" scene was nonstop. The irregulars maybe church-goers, but with the help of some local rock band, the congregation is uplifting. This movie was a lot of fun, I enjoyed very well. Rating 4 out of 5 stars!