Angel [Blu-ray]

Director: Robert O'Neil, Robert Vincent O'Neil Robert O'Neil

Overview

The original "honor student by day, hooker by night" melodrama, Angel stars Donna Wilkes in the title role. During the daylight hours, the 15-year-old Angel is known as Molly, a model prep school student. Devoid of parents, Molly must find some way to keep up the cash flow, so she hits the Hollywood mean streets as a prostitute. While we thankfully don't see Angel "in action," as it were, the film makes up in violence what it lacks in raw sex. Psycho John Diehl is on the loose murdering prostitutes; detective Cliff Gorman tries to stem the murder spree, but soon the hooker ranks are sorely diminished, leaving Angel the next likely target. With the help of such friends as ex-cowboy star Rory Calhoun and transvestite Dick Shawn, Angel manages to avoid becoming a statistic. We're not giving anything away here: after all, there was a 1986 sequel, Avenging Angel.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/31/2020
UPC:	0814456022550
Original Release:	1983
Rating:	R
Source:	Vinegar Syndrome
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	1:33:00
Sales rank:	14,163

Special Features

Newly scanned and restored in 4k from its 35mm interpositive; "Discovering an Angel" - an interview with Co-Writer/Director Robert Vincent O'Neil; "Playing Both Sides" - an interview with actress Donna Wilkes; "A Chance Meeting" - an interview with Co-Writer Joseph Cala; "Angel's Theme" - an interview with Composer Craig Safan; Theatrical Trailers for: Angel, Avenging Angel and Angel lll; Deleted scenes and outtakes (no sound); Reversible cover artwork; English SDH Subtitles

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Donna Wilkes	Molly 'Angel' Stewart
Cliff Gorman	Lt. Andrews,Zigmand
Susan Tyrrell	Solly Mosler
Dick Shawn	Mae
Rory Calhoun	Kit Carson
John Diehl	Billy Boy
David Anthony	Howie
Ronnie Barron	Blind Eddie
Joshua Cadman	Spike
Joseph M. Cala	Usher
Mel Carter	Jenkins
Jackie De Rouen	Tanya
Donna Fuller	Jesus Peddler
Elaine Giftos	Patricia Allen
Ross Hagen	Urban Cowboy
Marc Hayashi	Young Cop
Todd Hoffman	Punker
Vincent J. Isaac	Pimp
Peter Jason	Middle-Aged Man
Dennis Kort	Wayne
Greg Lewis	Themopolis
Chuck Lyles	Blind Eddie's Friend
Donna McDaniel	Crystal
Graem McGavin	Lana
Ken Olfson	Mr. Saunders
Karyn Parker	Diana
Steven Porter	Yo Yo Charlie
Gene Ross	Driver/Vice Cop
Laura Sorenson	Roxie
David Underwood	Ric Sawyer
Dick Valentine	Older Cop

Technical Credits

Joseph Cala

Donald P. Borchers	Producer
Don Levin	Executive Producer
Robert Vincent O'Neil	Director
Mel Pearl	Executive Producer
Roy Watts	Producer
Joseph Cala	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

This sequel-spawning grindhouse favorite is as thoroughly unrealistic as its premise seems: Angel's lifestyle seems rather nice and uncomplicated despite her profession, every denizen of the street (barring the psycho villain) is totally altruistic towards her and she seems remarkably innocent and non-cynical despite her tragic backstory. It sounds like a recipe for disaster but it actually is not: Angel is a surprising watchable and entertaining affair for b-movie fans. The script may be contradictory in its aims (one minute it is gritty exploitation, the next it is trying to be a sincere social-consciousness drama) but Robert Vincent O'Neil keeps things moving at a speedy pace that doesn't give the viewer time to question what's going on. He also keeps switching gears between thrills, comedy and melodrama to keep the viewer off-balance: as a result, it's genuinely difficult to guess what is going to happen next. Best of all, he populates the film with a cast of game, talented actors who give the film maximum energy: Donna Wilkes makes a likable and appealing heroine, Cliff Gorman adds a credible note of drama as her stoic policeman protector and John Diehl is genuinely creepy as the killer. However, the true entertainment comes from the supporting cast: Susan Tyrell and Dick Shawn steal every scene they are in as a lesbian landlady and drag queen duo who bicker like an old married couple. These performances are almost better than the movie deserves and thus keep it from being the usual b-movie fodder. In the end, Angel is probably a little too schizophrenic and sleazy for the average viewer but will work as a guaranteed guilty pleasure for anyone who gets nostalgic about trashy drive-in fare.

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