Angel (1984)

Director:

Robert Vincent O'Neill

Writers:

Joseph Michael Cala (writer)
Robert Vincent O'Neill (writer)

Release Date:

13 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

High School Honor Student by Day. Hollywood Hooker by Night.

Plot:

15 year-old Molly is the best in her class in high school. Nobody suspects that the model pupil earns...

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | High School | Prostitute | One Word Title | Police

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Cliff Gorman	...	Lt. Andrews
Susan Tyrrell	...	Solly Mosler
Dick Shawn	...	Mae
Rory Calhoun	...	Kit Carson
Donna Wilkes	...	Molly Stewart(Angel)
John Diehl	...	Billy Boy / Killer
Elaine Giftos	...	Patricia Allen
Donna McDaniel	...	Crystal
Graem McGavin	...	Lana
Mel Carter	...	Collins
Steven M. Porter	...	Yoyo Charlie
David Underwood	...	Ric Sawyer
David Anthony	...	Howie
Joshua Cadman	...	Spike (as Josh Cadman)
Greg Lewis	...	Themopolis
Karyn Parker	...	Diane
Dennis Kort	...	Wayne
Ken Olfson	...	Mr. Saunders
Peter Jason	...	The john
Gene Ross	...	Vice cop
Jackie De Rouen	...	Tanya
Laura Sorrenson	...	Roxie
Joseph Michael Cala	...	Usher
Donna Fuller	...	Jesus peddler
Ross Hagen	...	Urban cowboy
Robert Acey	...	Driver
Dick Valentine	...	Older cop
Marc Hayashi	...	Young cop
Bob Gorman	...	Zigmand
Todd Hoffman	...	Punker
Christian Dante	...	Police sketch artist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Gusse	...	Man loitering outside of theater (uncredited)
Mary-Margaret Stratton	...	Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Vincent O'Neill

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joseph Michael Cala		writer
Robert Vincent O'Neill		writer

Produced by
Donald P. Borchers	....	producer
Sandy Howard	....	executive producer
Don Levin	....	executive producer
Bob Manning	....	associate producer
Mel Pearl	....	executive producer
Roy Watts	....	producer

Original Music by
Craig Safan

Cinematography by
Andrew Davis		(as Andy Davis)

Film Editing by
Charles Bornstein

Casting by
Linda Francis

Art Direction by
Stephen Marsh

Set Decoration by
Christopher Amy

Costume Design by
Kathie Clark

Makeup Department
Darri Gocha	....	hair stylist (as Darri Roseborough)
Joann Kozloff	....	makeup artist
Kathy Shorkey	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joe Madalena	....	production manager
Keith Rubinstein	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeannine Lucchesi	....	assistant director
Betsy Pollock	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Eddie Campbell	....	sound editor
Paul B. Clay	....	supervising sound editor
Craig Felburg	....	sound recordist
Anthony Ippolito	....	sound editor
Don MacDougall	....	sound re-recording mixer
John L. Mack	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stanley Paul	....	sound editor
Paul Tucker	....	sound editor
Richard Tyler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wes Youngblood	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Roger George	....	special effects

Stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Kerrie Cullen	....	stunts
Vince Deadrick Sr.	....	stunts
Jack Verbois	....	stunts
Richard Wallace	....	stunts
Dick Warlock	....	stunt coordinator
Lance Warlock	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Melton Maxwell	....	gaffer
Randall Robinson	....	first assistant camera
Scott Whitemore	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill M. Ohanneson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Wilt Henderson	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Fred Prior	....	music editor

Other crew
Sandra K. Bailey	....	executive consultant
David DeCoteau	....	craft service
Matty Fabian	....	production assistant
Dennis Forel	....	balloon art
James Gierman	....	production assistant
Stuart B. Hagen	....	production assistant
Joan Hall-Noohi	....	production assistant
George Humphries	....	yo-yo tricks
Scott Javine	....	production assistant
Cheri Palmer Kluba	....	production coordinator
Monty Laird	....	gun tricks
Dan Newman	....	production executive
Michael Thomas Slifkin	....	location coordinator
Lillian Youngblood	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Adams Apple Film Company
• Angel Venture
• Planet Productions

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (1993) (Greece) (TV)
• Roadshow Home Video (1980s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Starmaker Video (video)
• Thorn EMI (video)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:R | USA:R (Certificate #27220) | UK:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Adams Apple Film Company

Trivia:

When Angel is dropped off in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre, the movie marquee reveals that Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) is playing.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final chase scene Molly/Angel is using a large caliber, long barreled revolver which should chamber a maximum of six shots. She fires six times during the chase. Then the gun is taken away from her a fired a seventh time. There is no indication Molly was carrying extra rounds, or stopped to reload if she had.

Quotes:

Mae: Give a man something to suck on and he's happy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Svengoolie: Angel (#1.7)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Something Sweet

Critically un-acclaimed success

While not being a Hollywood triumph, Angel is a wonderful film. Showing life on the streets is a large premise of the film, it takes care to preserve some humor as well. Not in the sense that it is a funny movie, as it is not; but it shows life as... well, life.

As most people who watch movies can relate, the enjoyment of a movie is not as a critic would describe. If you can feel the emotions of the characters, you can love them. If you can relate to the characters, you can befriend them. If you can care about the characters, the writers did their job, and you are now hooked. While Angel will not likely be a model in film school as one of the great classics, nor as an example of how to make a great movie, it is a highly entertaining film. You can feel the characters, even though they are not deeply constructed. The exception being Angel herself, whom you can see the wear and tear she goes through as an honor student and a prostitute.

I firmly believe that there is a message to be heard here, a storyline full of life, fun and adventure. Granted, it is not the best kept together, it does do the trick of conveying the message of the story across. The film allows you to care for the star, feel for the star, and cry with the star. A compassionate film that has supporting cast as abstract as could be, a little far fetched, maybe... but who really knows what kind of characters are really out there on the streets. But their conveyances of who they are allows you to realize their sense of why they are there. They are scared, they need the money, or they love it. Each supporting role as different as the others, but allows you to see the richness of the film in its entirety.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film numerous times, and am sure that you will too. Regardless of critical un-acclaim, most filmgoers can still see the enjoyment in a movie. Give every movie a chance. Especially Angel, as it is one of the finer forms of the un-acclaimed heroes in rental today