Main Cast: George Hamilton, Mercedes McCambridge, Joan Blondell, Henry Jones, Burt Reynolds, Salome Jens
Release Year: 1961
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
Plot
Based on Jenny Angel, a novel by Elise Oaks Barber, Angel Baby is a gloves-off study of the faith-healing racket. The title character, played by Salome Jens, is a mute whose speech is ostensibly restored by Bible-thumper George Hamilton. Angel Baby is then exploited on the evangelical circuit by crooked promoter Burt Reynolds (in his feature film debut). She becomes disillusioned, but her faith is restored when she apparently heals a crippled child. Any opportunity to see stage actress Salome Jens in one of her rare movie roles is always to be treasured; in this instance, Ms. Jens is backed up by an equally stellar supporting cast, including Mercedes McCambridge, Joan Blondell, and Henry Jones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Treading some similar territory as the much better Elmer Gantry, Angel Baby can't help but pale in comparison to the slightly earlier film. However, the similarities between the two are essentially superficial, as Angel is much more concerned with a "miracle" girl and her struggle with her beliefs and how the phony world of the faux-evangelicals she encounters impacts on her. It's an interesting premise for a movie, and it's a shame that the trio of screenwriters get stuck in trite, clichéd examinations of the premise rather than delving deeper and with more originality. Paul Wendkos' direction doesn't help to clarify the action or add much depth to the story, but it does allow for some impressive performances. As the title character, Salome Jens brings a strange beauty and a quirky intensity to the part that makes her quite haunting and her performance quite powerful. Mercedes McCambridge delivers an all-out turn that practically bowls the viewer over, and even George Hamilton is in good form here. Throw in some fine support from a young and charismatic Burt Reynolds, as well as dependable Joan Blondell and Henry Jones, and the result is a film that contains a surprising amount of acting power and far too little writing power. The excellent Haskell Wexler cinematography is also a bonus. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Roger Clark - Sam Wilcox; Dudley Remus - Otis Finch; Harry Swoger - Big Cripple; Barbara Biggart - Farm girl; Davy Biladeau - Little Boy; Victoria Adams - Ma Brooks; R.L. Armstrong - The Shanty Man; Eddie Firestone - Blind Man; Hubert Cornfield; Ted Lehmann - Willis Ferguson
Credit
Al Tameli - Art Director, Marjorie D. Corso - Costume Designer, Leonard Katzman - First Assistant Director, Hubert Cornfield - Director, Paul Wendkos - Director, Betty Lane - Editor, Wayne Shanklin - Composer (Music Score), Guy del Russo - Makeup, Stanley Campbell - Makeup, Jack A. Marta - Cinematographer, Haskell Wexler - Cinematographer, Thomas F. Woods - Producer, Sidney Clifford - Set Designer, Al Overton - Sound/Sound Designer, Kay Rose - Sound Editor, Orin Borsten - Screenwriter, Paul Mason - Screenwriter, Sam Roeca - Screenwriter, Elsie Oaks Barber - Book Author
