Angel (1984 film)

Angel is a 1984 action thriller film directed by Robert Vincent O'Neil, written by O'Neil and Joseph Michael Cala,[3][4] and starring Donna Wilkes.

Angel
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert Vincent O'Neil
Produced byDonald P. Borchers
Written byJoseph Michael Cala
Robert Vincent O'Neil
Starring
Music byCraig Safan
CinematographyAndrew Davis
Edited byCharles Bornstein
Distributed byNew World Pictures
Release date
  • January 13, 1984 (1984-01-13)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million[1]
Box office$17,488,564[2]

It was released by New World Pictures.[3]

Plot

Fifteen-year-old honor student Molly Stewart (Donna Wilkes) attends private prep school in the Los Angeles area in the daytime, but transforms herself to "Angel" at night: a leather mini-skirted, high-heeled street teenage prostitute who works Hollywood Boulevard. Angel has a "street family" made up of aging movie cowboy Kit Carson (Rory Calhoun), street performer Yoyo Charlie (Steven M. Porter), transvestite Mae (Dick Shawn), fellow hookers Crystal (Donna McDaniel) and Lana (Graem McGavin), and her landlord, eccentric painter Solly Mosler (Susan Tyrrell).

The street's dangers increase as a psycho-necrophiliac serial killer (John Diehl) begins to stalk and murder prostitutes. Los Angeles Police Lt. Andrews (Cliff Gorman) is assigned to the case, but finds no leads. Tragedy strikes Angel's group of friends when Crystal becomes a victim.

The next day at school, Molly is confronted by teacher Patricia Allen (Elaine Giftos), who is concerned about Molly's lack of extracurricular activities. Molly explains that her mother was paralyzed by a stroke and she has to head home immediately after school each day to care for her.

Lt. Andrews advises the hookers to work in pairs. Angel teams up with her partner, Lana. Lana takes a potential client to a motel room that she and Angel share. When Angel shows up at the room with a client of her own a couple of hours later she finds Lana's body in the shower. Angel gives the police a description of the suspect and a composite sketch is made. The killer is brought in for a lineup and Angel recognizes him, but he shoots his way out of the police station and escapes.

Andrews takes Molly/Angel home to speak with her parents, but discovers that Molly's father left nine years ago and her mother abandoned her three years ago. Molly maintains the pretense of a mother at home so that she will not be sent to a foster home. She believes that her father will return someday. She has paid her rent, school tuition and living expenses through prostitution since she was 12.

Despite Andrews' warnings to stay off the street, Angel/Molly purchases a pistol and returns to work. Her masquerade falls apart that night when some classmates recognize her on the street. Word flashes through the students at her school and soon everyone knows that Molly spends her evenings as a Hollywood hooker.

The next day, Ms. Allen visits Molly's apartment and insists on meeting her mother. Mae pretends to be Molly's mother, but Allen is not fooled. Mae is still at the apartment when the killer shows up later. They fight, and he stabs her, leaving her mortally wounded. Solly discovers Mae and the two share a tender moment of friendship before Mae succumbs to her wounds.

Andrews and Molly return to her apartment and find Mae's body. Molly heads out on the streets with Solly's huge long-barreled Magnum to avenge Mae and Andrews goes after her. After a fight and chase, Carson, whom Andrews enlisted to help, shoots the killer. Molly, Andrews, and a wounded Carson walk off together and the film fades to black.

Cast

Main

Supporting
  • John Diehl as The Killer
  • Elaine Giftos as Patricia Allen
  • Donna McDaniel as Crystal
  • Graem McGavin as Lana
  • Mel Carter as Collins
  • Steven M. Porter as Yoyo Charlie
  • David Underwood as Ric Sawyer
  • David Anthony as Howie
  • Joshua Cadman as Spike (credited as Josh Cadman)
  • Greg Lewis as Themopolis
  • Karyn Parker as Diane
  • Dennis Kort as Wayne
  • Ken Olfson as Mr. Saunders
  • Peter Jason as The John
  • Gene Ross as Vice Cop
  • Jackie De Rouen as Tanya
  • Laura Sorrenson as Roxie
  • Joseph Michael Cala as Usher
  • Donna Fuller as Jesus Peddler
  • Ross Hagen as Urban Cowboy
  • Robert Acey as Driver
  • Dick Valentine as Older Cop
  • Marc Hayashi as Young Cop
  • Bob Gorman as Zigmand
  • Todd Hoffman as Punker
  • Christian Dante as Police Sketch Artist

Release

Angel was released in theaters in the United States by New World Pictures on January 13, 1984. The film failed to open in the top 5 at the box office, yet grossed $2.2 million on its opening weekend. The film managed to stay in the box office top ten for several months, becoming a sleeper hit and eventually earning $17,488,564. It was New World's highest grossing picture that year.[5]

Sequels

The film's cult following and box office profits were enough to spawn three sequels, although each with a different actress. The sequels were Avenging Angel (1985), starring Betsy Russell, Angel III: The Final Chapter (1988), starring Mitzi Kapture, and Angel 4: Undercover (1993), starring Darlene Vogel. All three of them were commercial failures at the box office.

Production

Lead actress Donna Wilkes was actually twenty-four years old when she played fifteen-year-old Molly Stuart in this film. She prepared for the role by talking to real-life street prostitutes on Hollywood Boulevard, spent time with the Los Angeles Police Department, and in various halfway houses for underage children living on the streets of Los Angeles.

Composer Craig Safan wrote the score to this film in less than a week. The film premiered at the Hollywood Pacific Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. A fact sheet inside the theatre, prior to its closure in 1994, confirmed this. The theatre is also featured in the climax of the film, when a gun-toting Angel opens fire on the killer and terrifies the patrons outside.

The motel in the film is the El Royale Motel at 11117 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City.[6] Most of the film was shot at real locations on and around Hollywood Boulevard.

DVD release

In 2003, Anchor Bay Entertainment released the Region 1 DVD box set of the first three Angel films entitled The Angel Collection.[7]

Soundtrack

Craig Safan's score was released on compact disc by Intrada Records in 1993. In 2013 BSX Records released a compilation album called The Angel Trilogy, featuring Safan's album programme (plus a cover version of the Allies' "Something Sweet" as performed by Melody Michalski), Christopher Young's score for Avenging Angel (also previously released by Intrada) and Eric Allaman and Reinhard Scheuregger's music for Angel III: The Final Chapter.

References
  1. Caulfield, D. (Feb 19, 1984). "CALENDAR". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 153724606.
  2. Angel at Box Office Mojo
  3. Canby, Vincent (January 13, 1984). "Angel (1984) FILM: 'ANGEL,' IN SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE THE LAW". The New York Times.
  4. "Angel". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  5. Wilson, William S. (2015-01-11). "Newsploitation: AVENGING ANGEL (1985) now a 30-year-old MILF". Video Junkie. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
  6. El Royale Motel
  7. The Angel Collection product info
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