''Angel and the Badman'' is a 1947 American Western film written and directed by James Edward Grant and starring

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

, Gail Russell, Harry Carey and

Bruce Cabot Bruce Cabot (born Étienne de Pelissier Bujac Jr.; April 20, 1904 – May 3, 1972) was an American film actor, best remembered as Jack Driscoll in ''King Kong'' (1933) and for his roles in films such as ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1936), Fri ...

. The film is about an injured gunfighter who is nursed back to health by a young

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...

woman and her family whose way of life influences him and his violent ways. ''Angel and the Badman'' was the first film Wayne produced as well as starred in, and was a departure for this genre at the time it was released. Writer-director James Edward Grant was Wayne's frequent screenwriting collaborator. In 1975, the film entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.

Plot

Wounded and on the run, notorious gunman Quirt Evans gallops onto a farm owned by

Thomas Worth and his family and collapses. When Quirt urgently insists upon sending a telegram, Thomas and his daughter Penelope drive him into town in their wagon. After wiring a claim to the land recorder's office, Quirt passes out, and Penny cradles him. Ignoring the doctor's advice to rid themselves of the gunman, the compassionate Worth family tends to the delirious Quirt, and Penny becomes intrigued by his ravings about past loves. Days later, when Quirt regains consciousness, Penny patiently explains the family's belief in non-violence. Three weeks later, Laredo Stevens and Hondo Jeffries ride into town looking for Quirt. When Penny's younger brother Johnny rushes home to warn Quirt of his visitors, Quirt quickly prepares to flee. Penny, now smitten with Quirt, offers to run off with him. At the sound of approaching horses, Quirt grabs his gun and discovers that it has been emptied. Training his weapon on the doorway, Quirt calmly greets Hondo and Laredo. Thinking that Quirt has the upper hand, Laredo offers to buy his claim. When Quirt sets the price at $20,000, Laredo hands over $5,000 in gold and challenges him to come for the balance when he is able – if he has the nerve. Afterward, Quirt saddles his horse, but when Penny begs him to stay, he changes his mind. Later, Quirt learns that cantankerous rancher Frederick Carson has dammed up the stream that runs through the valley, thus draining the Worths' irrigation ditches. Quirt intimidates Carson into opening the dam. One Sunday, Penny asks Quirt to accompany the family to a Quaker meeting. Before they leave, Marshal Wistful McClintock comes to question Quirt about a stagecoach robbery. The family swears that Quirt was with them at the time. The marshal then asks Quirt why he resigned as Wyatt Earp's deputy, sold his ranch and crossed over to the wrong side of the law soon after cattleman Walt Ennis was gunned down in a saloon brawl. When Quirt refuses to answer, the marshal leaves. Penny then begs Quirt to steer clear of Laredo, and he acquiesces because of his love for her. As Quirt and the Worths ride to the Quaker gathering, Quirt's erstwhile sidekick, Randy McCall, tags along. Randy tells Quirt that Laredo plans to rustle a herd of cattle and suggests that they then steal the herd from Laredo and let him take the blame. During the meeting, Mr. Worth presents Quirt with a Bible with his name on the cover, as an expression of gratitude for his role in ending the water feud with Carson. Fearing that he will never be able to live up to Penny's expectations, Quirt abruptly leaves with Randy. Quirt and Randy steal the herd from the original rustlers. They then celebrate with showgirls Lila Neal and Christine Taylor. When Lila, sensing a change in her old flame, teases Quirt about his Bible, Quirt becomes angry and rides back to the Worth farm. Overjoyed, Penny throws her arms around him, just as the marshal arrives to question Quirt about the rustling. Quirt states that Lila can provide him with an alibi. Penny is hurt that Quirt was with his old flame. She heard him talk about Lila in his delirium, and thinks that Quirt prefers Lila's fair hair. Quirt realizes the depth of his feelings for Penny, and they kiss hungrily in the barn, while the camera fades out. The marshal warns Quirt that he is the wrong man for Penny. Quirt decides to propose to her anyway. Instead of replying, Penny invites Quirt to join her picking blackberries. Quirt answers Penny's questions about his early life. Kindly Walt Ennis raised him after his parents were massacred by Indians; then Ennis was murdered. On their way home, Quirt and Penny are ambushed and chased by Laredo and Hondo. Their wagon plunges over a cliff into the river. Penny develops a dangerous fever after the drenching. When the doctor informs Quirt that there is no hope for her, Quirt straps on his pistol and rides into town to exact revenge. After Quirt leaves, Penny's fever suddenly breaks. In town, Quirt sends Bradley to tell Laredo and Hondo that he is waiting for them in the street. Penny and her family arrive. She gets Quirt to surrender his gun to her. As Laredo and Hondo draw their guns, Marshal McClintock shoots them both. Quirt rides off in the wagon with Penny. The marshal picks up Quirt's discarded weapon. Bradley comments that Quirt may need it, to which the marshal says, "Only a man who carries a gun ever needs one." The film fades to black.

Cast

as Quirt Evans * Gail Russell as Penelope Worth * Harry Carey as Marshal Wistful McClintock *

as Laredo Stevens * Irene Rich as Mrs. Worth * Lee Dixon as Randy McCall * Stephen Grant as Johnny Worth * Tom Powers as Dr. Mangram * Paul Hurst as Frederick Carson * Olin Howland as Telegraph Operator Bradley *

John Halloran John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

as Thomas Worth *

Joan Barton Joan Barton (1908–1986) was an English poet and bookseller. She was born in Bristol and studied at Colston's Girls' School and Bristol University. While working in a bookstore in Bristol, and later running her own in Marlborough, she correspond ...

as Lila Neal *

Craig Woods Craig Woods (born Harry Lewis Woods Jr.; April 14, 1918 - September 12, 1974) was an actor who appeared in films during the Golden Age of Hollywood and later appeared on television. He was under contract with Columbia Pictures in the early 194 ...

as Ward Withers * Marshall Reed as Nelson *

Paul Fix Peter Paul Fix (March 13, 1901 – October 14, 1983) was an American film and television character actor who was best known for his work in Westerns. Fix appeared in more than 100 movies and dozens of television shows over a 56-year career be ...

as Mouse Marr (uncredited) * Hank Worden as Townsman (uncredited) * Louis Faust as Hondo Jeffries (uncredited) * Symona Boniface as Dance Hall Madam (uncredited)

Production

Filming

Principal photography took place from mid-April through late June 1946, in Flagstaff and

Sedona, Arizona Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,031. It is within the Coconino National Fo ...

, and in

Monument Valley Monument Valley ( nv, Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, , meaning ''valley of the rocks'') is a region of the Colorado Plateau characterized by a cluster of sandstone buttes, the largest reaching above the valley floor. It is located on the Utah-Arizona s ...

in Utah.

Soundtrack

* "A Little Bit Different" (Kim Gannon and Walter Kent) by Joan Barton * "Darling Nelly Gray" (Benjamin Russell Hamby) by Joan Barton and Lee Dixon

Production credits

* Director – James Edward Grant * Producer –

* Writer – James Edward Grant * Music – Richard Hageman (musical score) * Cinematography –

Archie Stout Archibald Job Stout (March 30, 1886 – March 10, 1973), ASC was an American cinematographer whose career spanned from 1914 to 1954. He enjoyed a long and fruitful association with John Ford, working as the principal cinematographer on '' Fort ...

(photography) * Art direction –

Ernst Fegté Ernst Fegté (28 September 1900 – 15 December 1976) was a German art director. He was active in the American cinema from the 1920s to the 1970s, he was the art director or production designer on more than 75 feature films. He worked at Pa ...

(production design), John McCarthy Jr. and Charles S. Thompson (set decorations) * Second unit director – Yakima Canutt * Editor – Harry Keller * Musical director –

Cy Feuer Cy Feuer (January 15, 1911 – May 17, 2006) was an American theatre producer, director, composer, musician, and half of the celebrated producing duo Feuer and Martin. He won three competitive Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theat ...

* Sound – Vic Appel * Costume design –

Adele Palmer Adele Palmer (October 21, 1915 – July 1, 2008) was an American costume designer who worked on more than 300 films during her long career. She was nominated for one Oscar. This was for the film '' The Best of Everything'', in the category of Be ...

* Special effects – Howard and Theodore Lydecker * Makeup supervision – Bob Mark * Hair stylist – Peggy Gray

Song

In 1993,

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...

wrote and sang a song inspired by this film called "Angel and the Badman".

Reception

Upon the film's release, '' The New York Times'' reviewer wrote, "Mr. Wayne and company have sacrificed the usual roaring action to fashion a leisurely Western, which is different from and a notch or two superior to the normal sagebrush saga." The reviewer continues: The reviewer concludes, "John Wayne makes a grim and laconic, converted renegade, who is torn by love, a new faith and the desire for revenge on an arch enemy. Gail Russell, a stranger to Westerns, is convincing as the lady who makes him see the light."

Remake

The film was remade in 2009 for the Hallmark Channel by Terry Ingram, with Lou Diamond Phillips playing Quirt Evans and Wayne's grandson Brendan in a cameo appearance. The remake also stars Deborah Kara Unger as Temperance, Luke Perry as Laredo, and Terence Kelly as Thomas. ''Angel and the Badman'' also inspired two other successful "fish out of water" films: '' Witness'' (1985) starring

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...

, and ''

The Outsider The Outsider may refer to: Film * ''The Outsider'' (1917 film), an American film directed by William C. Dowlan * ''The Outsider'' (1926 film), an American film directed by Rowland V. Lee * ''The Outsider'' (1931 film), a film starring Joan Barr ...

'' (2003), starring Tim Daly and Naomi Watts.

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Angel and the Badman 1947 films 1947 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films American black-and-white films Articles containing video clips 1940s English-language films Films about Quakers Films directed by James Edward Grant Films produced by John Wayne Films shot in Arizona Films shot in Utah Republic Pictures films 1940s American films