Flying Padre

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Flying Padre is a 1951 short subject (8-minute) black-and-white documentary, which is notable as the second picture directed by Stanley Kubrick.

The subject is a Catholic priest in rural New Mexico, Father Fred Stadtmuller. Because his 400-square mile parish is so large, he uses a Piper Cub airplane (named the "Spirit of St. Joseph") to travel from one isolated settlement to another.

In the film, we see him providing guidance, giving sermons at funerals, and serving as an impromptu air ambulance by flying a sick child and his mother to hospital.

Narrated by late CBS announcer/anchor, Bob Hite (b.1914-d.2000), whose distinctive voice quality and delivery became the standard for the 'Tiffany Network' sound. Hite began his career at WXYZ Radio, Detroit, as did Douglas Edwards (b.1917-d.1990) who narrated Kubrick's first documentary short, "Day of the Fight." At WXYZ, Hite was announcer for original radio shows such as The Green Hornet, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, The Shadow, but best known as narrator of the Lone Ranger. Hired away by CBS in 1944, Hite filled numerous roles for the next 35 years. He is best remembered as the announcer for the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.