WAYNE'S WORLD OF CINEMA: ANGEL BABY (1961)

Burt Reynolds made his SCREEN DEBUT in ANGEL BABY (1961), he stated the "Fight Scene" with George Hamilton was a bit of a CHALLENGE to appear BELIEVABLE, since Hamilton was NOT the most coordinated person on the planet. Reynolds further injected that Hamilton LIFTED him and he JUMPED into the shrubs, hoping that it appeared he was THROWN. Unfortunately. on the SCREEN, it appears that the CAMERA doesn't lie.

Not able to fight off TEMPTATION, Angel Baby ( Salome Jens) finds herself in the arms of the local BAD BOY, Hoke Adams (Burt Renolds) rolling in the DIRT behind a PARKED car. Though Angel Baby is MUTE, Hoke knows what she desires. Just as things were starting to PERCOLATE, Angel could hear her mother calling her name, as she was searching for her, through the parking lot. Angel quickly breaks away from her BAD BOY lover, rising to her feet. All at once, Ma Brooks ( Victoria Adams) comes on the scene and chases Hoke away.

Fearing for her soul, Ma Brooks fears that her full-grown daughter may be heading down the WRONG path in becoming the local TRAMP, bringing Angel Baby to the tent revival is another DESPERATE act for a mother who wants her daughter to SPEAK again. Angel Baby hasn't spoken since she witnessed her drunken father beat her mother and then her too. After spending all her savings, seeing countless doctors, this time Ma Brooks wants to believe that Preacher Paul can HEAL Angel Baby where the others have failed.

Once inside the revival tent, Angel Baby and her mother OBSERVE Preacher Paul Strand ( George Hamilton) HEAL an old crippled woman to walk again. Next, it 's Angel Baby 's turn for Preacher Paul to PERFORM another miracle. Angel Baby takes center stage along Preacher Paul, not knowing what to expect. Preacher Paul PLEADS with his CONGREGATION to PRAY with him for Angel Baby to SPEAK again.

Tenderly, Preacher Paul touches Angel Baby's throat, calling upon God to give her a VOICE. Repeatedly, Preacher Paul INSTRUCTS Angel Baby to SPEAK the word, GOD. Overcome with EMOTION, Angel Baby COLLAPSES to her knees trying to release the WORDS from her BURNING throat. Finally, Angel Baby BLURTS out God, sending the CONGREGATION triumphantly to their feet. Preacher Paul, once again asks Angel Baby to SPEAK again. Angel Baby complies and then FAINTS into Preacher Paul's arms. Immediately Preacher Paul carries Angel Baby's limp body off the stage.

The following day, Angel Baby believes that she has received her calling from GOD and decides to join Preacher Paul's ministry. Preacher Paul takes Angel Baby under his wing, giving her speaking lessons. JEALOUSY begins to fester within the preacher's wife Sister Sarah (Mercedes McCambridge), who is much older than her husband, seeing him with ANOTHER WOMAN his same age, is more than she can bear. Furthermore, Sister Sarah is concerned that her husband has lost his mind, spicing up his SERMONS having Angel Baby dancing around in PROVOCATIVE costumes representing biblical sirens like Delilah if it was a GIRLIE show.

Angel Baby 's not-so-distant past tries to CREEP back into her new HOLY life when Hoke tries to make LOVE to her. Standing her ground, Angel Baby tries to convince Hoke that she's NOT that kind of girl anymore. But Hoke won't take NO for answer, forcing himself on her. Angel's screams send Pastor Paul into the bushes to her rescue. Immediately, Pastor Paul pulls off Hoke from atop his Anel Baby, leading to an UNREALISTIC brawl between the WEAKLING and the local BULLY. In the end, Preacher Paul saves the day and the VIRTUE of his TAINTED protegee.

Compelled to save her new PURE persona, Angel Baby defends herself, stating that she is no longer a SINNER and that she has NOT sinned. Preacher Paul believes his once TAINTED protegee, that she 's no longer a TRAMP. However, Angel Baby could no longer hold back her TRUE feelings toward her mentor, confessing that she loves him. Swiftly, Angel Baby wraps her LOVING ARMS about the speechless EVANGELIST.

Coming out of the bushes, Preacher Paul and Angel Baby are CONFRONTED once again with Hoke. Apparently, Hoke is not willing to give up his former "good-time girl." More FAKE punches were thrown, leading to Preacher Paul and Hoke rolling around on the ground, this time gaining the attention of the worshippers and the preacher's wife, Sister Sarah.

Appalled by her husband's behavior, lusting after his protegee like a FILTHY dog, Sister Sarah reprimanded Preacher Paul in the privacy of their trailer. After listening to his MUCH OLDER wife rattle on, DEGRADING Angel Baby, the shaken Preacher Paul lashes back, striking her across the face. Immediately, Preacher Paul begs his wife for his forgiveness.

Sister Sarah forgives her former CHOIRBOY for being NAIVE when it comes to SEX. She knows that she is partly to blame for PLUCKING him out of the choir, then MOLDING him into a PREACHER of God's word. Sister Sarah OPENS her robe, offering her BODY to her husband to CLEANSE him for wanting that WANTON woman. Horrified at the thought of making love to his wife, Preacher Paul DECLINES his wife's proposal to change their PLATONIC marriage to one that involves SEX and FLEES from the bedroom.

The very next day, Angel Baby finds herself BANISHED from the ministry and Preacher Paul. But all is not lost, Angel Baby ventures out on her own with her own traveling ministry accompanied by a BOOZY organist Molly Hays (Joan Blondell) and her husband ( Henry Jones). At first, the three meet up with hard times, not being as successful as Preacher Paul's ministry. But their luck was about to change when the UNSCRUPULOUS salesman, Sam Wilcox (Roger Clark) witnesses a murderer CONFESS his crime and then REPENT during Angel Baby's sermon. Wilcox thinks that Angel Baby would the right person to sell his medicine, so he becomes the benefactor of her ministry.

Stumbling into the revival tent, a BLIND man CRAWLS his way to center to be CURED by Angel Baby. Once there, Angel Baby CONFESSES that she can't HEAL him but she can only PRAY for him. The BLIND man begs for Angel Baby to TOUCH his eyes with her HEALING hands. Angel Baby kneels down and TOUCHES his eyes. Miraculously, the BLIND man sees again. Angel Baby becomes CONVINCED that she is a HEALER of god.

Once outside the tent, the former BLIND man receives his PAYOFF from Wilcox. The transaction did not go unnoticed, Molly and her husband CONFRONT Wilcox, only to learn that he hired more CON ARTISTS to be HEALED by Angel Baby. Molly decides NOT to tell Angel Baby about the truth, that she didn't HEAL the BLIND man, thinking the TRUTH would DESTROY her. Instead, Molly and her husband take a ROAD TRIP to see Preacher Paul for his assistance in this matter.

Preacher Paul stood outside the tent, watching as DESPERATE people came by the droves to be HEAL by Angel Baby. After hearing Angel Baby's situation, Preacher Paul has left his wife forever, to be by Angel Baby's side and help her to get back on the right path.

Angel Baby couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Preacher Paul
appear in her dressing room. Preacher Paul informs his former protégée, that he has not come to hear her sermon, but to MARRY her. He also injects that he will be DIVORCING Sister Sarah. Instantly, Angel Baby flies into Preacher Paul's arms in a passionate embrace. Soon after, Preacher John suggests that Angel Baby come away with him immediately. However, BAILING out on the sermon was NOT an option, as far as Angel Baby was concern she was paying it forward to God, for returning her VOICE back to her.

Taking her place on the center stage, unbeknownst to Angel Baby calls forth one of Wilcox's CON ARTIST in a wheelchair. Suddenly
Sister Sara BURST into the tent, calling Angel Baby, the DEVIL'S SLUT and accusing the man in the wheelchair to be FAKE. Sister Sara continues to say the man was PAID to ACT like he was miraculously HEALED. Just when Sister Sarah was about to be ESCORTED OUT, Hoke steps in and defends her. Angel Baby tries to reassure her followers that there is nothing SHADY happening. Sister Sara goes to the stage, pushing the man in the wheelchair. Fearing for his safety, the CON ARTIST leaps out the wheelchair and flees for his life.

The worshippers, who came from miles around with their loved ones to be HEALED, now feel BETRAYED, now has become an ANGRY MOB. The tent begins to SHAKE due to FISTS flying and PLASTIC ANGELS being destroyed. Amidst all the CHAOS and DESTRUCTION going on around her, Sister Sarah still stirs the pot by spewing her VENOMOUS speech until the tent topples down on her.

Almost SHAKEN to death by former followers, Angel Baby was rescued by Hoke. Instead of thanking him, Angel walks away in a TRANCE like state. The ORDEAL was too much for her to bear, she was not a FRAUD. She knew nothing about the cons who were paid to FAKE MIRACLES by her. Angel Baby wanders away from the DESTRUCTION and CHAOS she inadvertently caused.

Preacher Paul DISCOVERS his wife lying in the RUBBLE of the fallen tent. He quickly removes the beam over Sister Sarah's battered body. As he pulls her near, Sister Sarah takes her LAST breath, trying to speak, but DIES before she was able to MUTTER one word. As Preacher Paul was grieving for his deceased wife, he is informed that Angel Baby has disappeared.

When Angel Baby arrived in town, she's immediately recognized by the parents of a LAME boy. Quickly, the parents gather their son and take him to the INFAMOUS healer, unaware that she has been exposed as a FRAUD. While searching in town, Preacher Paul came upon a gathering of town folks hoping to WITNESS Angel Baby PERFORM a miracle. Though she has lost her faith, Angel Baby holds the LAME boy, praying to the almighty for he can WALK and play in the sunshine.

As the tears stream down her face, Angel Baby commands the LAME boy to WALK to his parents. By the power of God, the LAME boy WALKS three feet to his father's arms and then collapses. After the MIRACLE was performed, the crowd starts dispense, Angel Baby looks up to see a hand reaching out belonging to Preacher Paul. Angel Baby rose to her feet, then walks away with her Preacher Man.

FILM FACTS:

Debra Paget turned down the role of Jenny in ANGEL BABY (1961).

Burt Reynolds made his film debut in ANGEL BABY (1961).

After making WHERE THE BOYS ARE (1960), George Hamilton vowed he would make better movies. However, Hamilton's next film, ANGEL BABY (1961) was panned by the critics for its comparison to ELMER GENTRY (1960).

Salome Jens made her screen debut in ANGEL BABY (1961).

"Jenny Angel" is sung by George Hamilton in the closing credits of the film.

IMMORTAL DIALOGUE:

"Why would you want to learn to talk for ?"

" Things are fine, just the way they are."

" Lust ! Lust ! Lust ! , you, a Man of God, fighting over a wanton woman like a filthy dog."

" Blasphemy...Defier of the Holy Name...this woman is the Devil's Slut ...Harlot !!!"

" Are you gonna make me WALK ???"

FABRICATED DIALOGUE:

"Enough of the Fire and Brimstone, we want to see Angel Baby shimmy like Delilah again ."

" Now, that I can speak again. I want to learn some SWEAR words for I can tell people where to go ."

" Don't you think you're showing too much CLEAVAGE to these GOD-FEARING folks?"

" Next time, I'm going to READ the SCRIPT before committing to do the movie."

" When I signed on to do this movie, I was under the impression I would be playing ANGEL BABY not the BOOZY ORGANIST."

THE CAST:
George Hamilton ( Paul Strand), Mercedes McCambridge (Sarah Strand), Salome Jens ( Angel Baby), Joan Blondell ( Molly Hays), Henry Jones ( Bert Hays), Burt Reynolds (Hoke Adams), Roger Clark ( Sam Wilcox), Dudley Remus ( Otis Finch), R.J. Armstrong (The Shanty Man), Harry Swoger ( The Big Cripple), Eddie Firestone ( The Blind Man), Victoria Adams ( Ma Brooks).

MY BOTTOM LINE: Making his screen debut in ANGEL BABY (1961), Burt Reynolds appears SHIRTLESS in his opening scene, MANSCAPED for his BAD BOY role, discarding his infamous chest hair. Like the critics that panned this film, Reynolds is not a fan of his first film. I beg to differ, feeling that the film succeeds on a CAMP level, especially the FIGHT scene with Reynolds and George Hamilton. The scene appears to be more IMPROMPTU than choreographed. One has to laugh at the thought of George Hamiton getting the best of Burt Reynolds is completely laughable, like the WEAKLING facing up to the MUSCLE-BOUND bully in the Charles Atlas ad. Hamilton is supposed to throw Reynolds in the bushes, instead, it looks like he's jumping into the bush.

Let's not forget Mercedes McCambridge in the role of the Preacher's Wife seems to be TAILOR-MADE for her, as she GOBBLES up every scene she's in like PAC-MAN, including veteran actors Joan Blondell and Henry Jones. And of course, there the over-the-top DIALOGUE like " Lust! Lust! Lust! you, a man of God, fighting over a WANTON woman like a FILTHY dog," or Blasphemy...Defier of the Holy Name, this woman is the Devil's SLUT...Harlot."

Salome Jens doesn't shatter the ceiling with her screen debut, giving ADEQUATE performance as Angel Baby, perhaps, she was miscast.In my opinion, Carroll Baker or Connie Stevens would have been more a PLAUSIBLE choice for the starring role. However, the results of the box-office bomb would have probably ended the same way, drifting off to obscurity after its release.

Then, there's George Hamilton amidst this simmering, but never bubbling potboiler, gives a CARDBOARD performance as Preacher Paul. Hamilton appears to in a trance in most of the film, sleepwalking his way in another regrettable career decision. ANGEL BABY (1961) is definitely for fans of vintage melodramas with campy dialogue.