Avenging Angel (1985 film)

Avenging Angel
Avenging Angel
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Vincent O'Neil
Written by	Joseph Michael Cala; Robert Vincent O'Neill
Produced by	Sandy Howard
Starring	Betsy Russell; Rory Calhoun; Susan Tyrrell; Ossie Davis; Steven M. Porter; Robert F. Lyons; Frank Doubleday; Barry Pearl; Ross Hagen;
Cinematography	Peter Lyons Collister
Edited by	John R. Bowey
Music by	Christopher Young
Distributed by	New World Pictures
Release date	January 11, 1985;
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$5,622,787

Avenging Angel is a 1985 American action thriller film directed by Robert Vincent O'Neil and written by O'Neil and Joseph Michael Cala.^[2] It stars Betsy Russell, Rory Calhoun, Robert F. Lyons, Ossie Davis, and Susan Tyrrell.

The film is a sequel to

Angel 4: Undercover

(1993).

Rory Calhoun claimed Donna Wilkes did not reprise the role she had originated because the producers refused to pay her the salary she wanted.^[3]

Plot

Molly Stewart (Betsy Russell) 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 when he became her legal guardian, 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. The trio leaves just as the police arrived.

Main cast

Betsy Russell as Molly "Angel" Stewart
Rory Calhoun as Kit Carson
Susan Tyrrell as Solly Mosler
Ossie Davis as Captain Harry Moradian
Steven M. Porter as Yo-Yo Charlie
Robert F. Lyons as Lt. Hugh Andrews
Paul Lambert as Arthur Gerrard
Frank Doubleday as Miles Gerrard
Barry Pearl as Johnny Glitter
Ross Hagen as Ray Mitchell
Liz Sheridan as Nurse

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 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 for the company, opening in 10th place and eventually earning $5,622,787.^[4]

Soundtrack

As Craig Safan was unavailable, Christopher Young composed the score for the film. In 1990, Intrada Records issued his music on a compilation CD including his work from Def-Con 4 (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.