''Avenging Angel'' is a 1985 American

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by

Robert Vincent O'Neil Robert Vincent O’Neil (September 15, 1930 – March 12, 2022) was an American screenwriter, film director, and playwright. Best known for directing and co-writing the film ''Angel'', he co-wrote films including ''The Baltimore Bullet'' and ''Vice ...

and written by O'Neil and Joseph Michael Cala. It stars

Betsy Russell Elizabeth "Betsy" Russell (born September 6, 1963) is an American actress who is best known for her roles in ''Private School'' (1983), ''Tomboy'' (1985), and as Jill Tuck, one of the primary characters of the ''Saw'' film series from 2006 to ...

Rory Calhoun Rory Calhoun (born Francis Timothy McCown, August 8, 1922April 28, 1999) was an American film and television actor. He starred in numerous Westerns in the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared in supporting roles in films such as '' How to Marry a Milli ...

, Robert F. Lyons,

Ossie Davis Raiford Chatman "Ossie" Davis (December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an American actor, director, writer, and activist. He was married to Ruby Dee, with whom he frequently performed, until his death. He and his wife were named to the NAACP ...

, and

Susan Tyrrell Susan Tyrrell (born Susan Jillian Creamer; March 18, 1945 – June 16, 2012) was an American character actress. Tyrrell's career began in theater in New York City in the 1960s in Broadway and off Broadway productions. Her first film was ''Shoot ...

. The film is a sequel to ''

Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...

'' (1984) and was followed by '' Angel III: The Final Chapter'' (1988) and '' Angel 4: Undercover'' (1993).

claimed

Donna Wilkes Donna Consuelo Wilkes (born 1958–1961) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actor in commercials before making her feature film debut in ''Jaws 2'' (1978). She subsequently had a supporting role in ''Almost Summer'' (1978), ...

did not reprise the role she had originated because the producers refused to pay her the salary she wanted.

Plot

Molly Stewart (

) is off the streets and studying to become a lawyer. Molly learns that Lt. Andrews ( Robert F. Lyons), the detective who helped her leave

prostitution Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...

, was murdered. She returns to the streets as Angel to track down his killer and avenge his death. She enlists help from her old friends, Yoyo Charlie, Solly Mosler and Kit Carson and hunts for the sole witness, Johnny Glitter, to the crime. They break Kit out of the sanitarium and find Johnny at his home just as the thugs who killed Andrews find him. Kit and Angel save Johnny in a shootout. Angel discovers a scheme to buy up Hollywood Boulevard by intimidation and violence that Gerrard perpetuates. Gerrard's men corner Kit, Solly, Angel and Johnny in an alley. Kit shoots the car and causes it to crash, and they capture Gerrard's son. The son gets loose and threatens them with a gun, but the phone rings and Kit shoots him to death. The caller is Gerrard, who has kidnapped Solly's baby, Little Buck. Gerrard offers to trade Buck for his son. They attempt to make the trade despite the son's death, but Gerrard discovers the ruse. When he discovers his son has died, a shootout ensues and Gerrard takes the baby. Kit takes out one thug and Johnny Glitter, who shoots blind, shoots the other and also himself. Angel confronts Gerrard on the top floor and Gerrard threatens to throw the baby down. Angel surrenders and Gerrard puts the baby down, but the baby crawls toward the edge. Gerrard will not allow Angel to move. Solly sees what is happening and goes up to shoot Gerrard. Angel tries to get to the baby, but the baby falls. Kit sees the baby fall and catches him. Angel and Solly come down with the baby safely wrapped in Kit's jacket.

Main cast

as Molly "Angel" Stewart *

as Kit Carson *

as Solly Mosler *

as Captain Harry Moradian *Steven M. Porter as Yo-Yo Charlie * Robert F. Lyons as Lt. Hugh Andrews *

Paul Lambert Paul Lambert (born 7 August 1969) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player, who was most recently the manager of Ipswich Town. Lambert played as a midfielder and won the Scottish Cup in 1987 with St Mirren as a 17-year-ol ...

as Arthur Gerrard * Frank Doubleday as Miles Gerrard *

Barry Pearl Barry Lee Pearl (born March 29, 1950 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) is an American actor. Pearl is best known for his role as "Doody", one of the three supporting T-Birds, in the 1978 film version of '' Grease''. He also had a cameo as Mr. Weaver ...

as Johnny Glitter *

Ross Hagen Ross Hagen (born Leland Lando Lilly; May 21, 1938 – May 7, 2011) was an American voice actor, actor, director, screenwriter and producer whose television acting credits included ''Daktari''. His film credits included ''The Hellcats'' in 1967 a ...

as Ray Mitchell

Release

''Avenging Angel'' went into production quickly after the success of its predecessor. Hoping to recreate the success of the first film,

New World Pictures New World Pictures (also known as New World Entertainment and New World Communications Group, Inc.) was an American independent production, distribution, and (in its final years as an autonomous entity) multimedia company. It was founded in 197 ...

released the film on January 11, 1985, two days shy of the anniversary of the first film's release. The film was a

box office disappointment A box-office bomb, or box-office disaster, is a film that is unprofitable or considered highly unsuccessful during its theatrical run. Although any film for which the production, marketing, and distribution costs combined exceed the revenue after ...

for the company, opening in 10th place and eventually earning $5,622,787.

Soundtrack

Craig Safan Craig Safan (born December 17, 1948 in Los Angeles, California) is an American composer for film and television, whose biggest scores include ''The Last Starfighter'', '' Mr. Wrong'', '' Stand and Deliver'', '' Fade to Black'', ''Major Payne'', ' ...

was unavailable,

Christopher Young Christopher Young (born April 28, 1957) is an American composer and orchestrator of film and television scores. Many of his compositions are for horror and thriller films, including ''Hellraiser'', ''Species'', ''Urban Legend'', ''The Grudge'', ...

composed the score for the film. In 1990,

Intrada Records Intrada is an American record company based in Oakland, California, owned and managed by Douglass Fake. The company specializes in movie and television soundtracks, notably those by the late Jerry Goldsmith. Intrada was founded in 1985 by owner ...

issued his music on a compilation CD including his work from ''

Def-Con 4 ''Def-Con 4'' is a 1985 Canadian post-apocalyptic film, portraying three astronauts who survive World War III aboard a space station and return to Earth to find greatly changed circumstances. The film's title refers to the Defense Readiness Conditi ...

'' (1985), ''Torment'' (1986) and '' The Telephone'' (1988); in 2013, BSX Records released a compilation album called ''The Angel Trilogy'', featuring Young's score, Safan's music for ''Angel'' and Eric Allaman and Reinhard Scheuregger's music for ''Angel III: The Final Chapter''.

Home video

In 2003,

Anchor Bay Entertainment Anchor Bay Entertainment (formerly Video Treasures and Starmaker Entertainment) was an American home entertainment and production company. It was a subsidiary of Starz Inc. Anchor Bay Entertainment marketed and sold feature films, television ser ...

released the Region 1 DVD box set of the first three ''Angel'' films entitled ''The Angel Collection''.''The Angel Collection'' product info
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References

External links

* * * {{Angel (film series) 1985 films 1985 action thriller films 1985 LGBT-related films 1980s American films 1985 crime thriller films 1980s English-language films American crime thriller films American action thriller films American LGBT-related films American sequel films American sexploitation films Angel (film series) Films directed by Robert Vincent O'Neil Films scored by Christopher Young New World Pictures films