Angel and the Badman (2009) (TV)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Terry Ingram

Writers:

Jack Nasser (writer) and
Thomas Makowski (writer)

Release Date:

5 July 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot Keywords:

Remake

Cast

Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Quirt Evans
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Temperance
Luke Perry	...	Laredo
Terence Kelly	...	Thomas (as Terrance Kelly)
Merrilyn Gann	...	Virginia
Gig Morton	...	John
Michael Teigen	...	Telegraph Operator
John Tench	...	Hondo
Scott McNeil	...	Auburn
Don Thompson	...	Doc Johnson
Brendan Wayne	...	Randy
Winston Rekert	...	Sam
Gary Chalk	...	Carson
Melanie Papalia	...	Sandy
Matthew Robert Kelly	...	Jake

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some western violence and a brief sexual reference.

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45387)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

NGN Productions

Trivia:

Remake of the John Wayne classic of the same name.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning, when they are leaving the Telegraph office after Quirt sends his telegram, the office door is alternately closed, open, closed when the Telegrtaph operator is acting like he knows Quirt as he rides away in the wagon.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Angel and the Badman (1947)

You Can Get Further With a Kind Word and a Gun Than Wih Just a Kind Word

This is a remake of the classic 1947 John Wayne western about an injured gunslinger who falls in with good company in the form of some Quakers. Full of comedy and broad performances, the original includes some classic bits and a grand performance by Harry Carey Sr. at the end of his career. The people at Hallmark must have been hesitant to greenlight this production, but they manage to produce a pretty good movie as a result and on its own terms.

As with all good remakes, it takes the same material and spins it in a different direction. and the more serious tone of this version does work for the first half, when the contrast between Quirt's life and character is spoken about -- it's handled humorously in the original. Instead, the humor in this version is reserved for the section where Lou Phillips, as Quirt Evans, tries going back to his old life. The attempt to play comedy as Phillips grows more dissatisfied and disgusted with his fellow associates does not, alas, quite work.

It does remain a good character study, and among the supporting cast, a special note should be taken of Winston Rekert who plays the Harry Carey role -- a sheriff who had hoped to hang Quirt with a new rope. His is the toughest act to follow, and he manages it very nicely.