The Angel Collection [3 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

The complete high-school-honor-student-turned-Hollywood-hooker trilogy! Includes Angel (Donna Wilkes. 1984/94 min.), Avenging Angel (Betsy Russell. 1985/93 min.) and ngel III: The Final Chapter (Mitzi Kapture, Richard Roundtree. 1988/100 min.). 3 DVDs. Color/R/widescreen.

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 3
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • cc
  • Widescreen presentations (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs
  • Deleted scenes
  • Theatrical trailers
  • Poster and still gallery

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  Robert O'Neil, Tom de Simone

• Producer:

  Donald P. Borchers, Sandy Howard, Don Levin, Mel Pearl, Roy Watts, Michael S. Murphey, Keith Rubinstein, Joel Soisson, Arnold H. Orgolini

• Screenwriter:

  Joseph Michael Cala, Robert O'Neil, Tom de Simone

• Cinematographer:

  Andrew Davis, Peter Lyons Collister, Bryan England, Howard Wexler

• Composer (Music Score):

  Craig Safan

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Craig Felburg

• Composer (Music Score):

  Christopher Young, Paul F. Antonelli, David Wheatley

• Songwriter:

  Kim Darigan, Temmer Darigan

• Composer (Music Score):

  Alan Ett

• Songwriter:

  Joe Felix, Robert Fleischman, Deandre "Fish" Flemming

• Composer (Music Score):

  Don Great

• Songwriter:

  Sibling Rivalry

• Composer (Music Score):

  Chris Spedding, Eric Allaman

• Editor:

  Chalres Bornstein, John Bowey, Warren Chadwick

• Production Designer:

  Stephen Marsh

• Art Director:

  Stephen Marsh, Alexandra Kicenik

• Executive Producer:

  Don Levin, Mel Pearl

• Set Designer:

  Monette Goldman

• Set Decorator:

  Christopher Amy

• Costume Designer:

  Kathie Clark

• Set Decorator:

  Patricia Hall

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Craig Felburg, Mary Jo Devenney

• Special Effects:

  Roger George, Gary F. Bentley, Greg Landerer

• First Assistant Director:

  Betsy Pollock

• Stunts:

  Vince Deadrick, Jr., Jesse Wayne, John Branagan

• Casting:

  Linda Francis, Tedra Gabriel

• Set Dresser:

  Gregory Melton

• Stunts Coordinator:

  Richard Warlock

• Gaffer:

  Mel Maxwell

• Stunts Coordinator:

  John Branagan

REVIEWS:

• This sequel-spawning grindhouse favorite is as thoroughly unrealistic as its premise seems: Angel's lifestyle seems rather nice and uncomplicated despite her profession, every denizen of the street (barring the psycho villain) is totally altruistic towards her and she seems remarkably innocent and non-cynical despite her tragic backstory. It sounds like a recipe for disaster but it actually is not: Angel is a surprising watchable and entertaining affair for b-movie fans. The script may be contradictory in its aims (one minute it is gritty exploitation, the next it is trying to be a sincere social-consciousness drama) but Robert Vincent O'Neil keeps things moving at a speedy pace that doesn't give the viewer time to question what's going on. He also keeps switching gears between thrills, comedy and melodrama to keep the viewer off-balance: as a result, it's genuinely difficult to guess what is going to happen next. Best of all, he populates the film with a cast of game, talented actors who give the film maximum energy: Donna Wilkes makes a likable and appealing heroine, Cliff Gorman adds a credible note of drama as her stoic policeman protector and John Diehl is genuinely creepy as the killer. However, the true entertainment comes from the supporting cast: Susan Tyrell and Dick Shawn steal every scene they are in as a lesbian landlady and drag queen duo who bicker like an old married couple. These performances are almost better than the movie deserves and thus keep it from being the usual b-movie fodder. In the end, Angel is probably a little too schizophrenic and sleazy for the average viewer but will work as a guaranteed guilty pleasure for anyone who gets nostalgic about trashy drive-in fare. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi
• This sequel to the surprise hit Angel is a technically slicker affair but lacks most of the elements that distinguished its predecessor from run of the mill b-movie fare. First off, the performances in Avenging Angel lack the combination of sincerity and energy that informed the performances in the first film: Betsy Russell's performance as Angel is depressingly flat and inexpressive and reliable character actors like Susan Tyrell and Rory Calhoun end up lapsing into cartoonish schtick because the underwritten script gives them little to do. The only actor who acquits himself well is Ossie Davis, who brings some dramatic weight to his stock role as a friendly police chief. The film also suffers from a schizophrenic script that throws in everything from bloody shootouts to silly slapstick without ever finding the careful balance of these elements used in Angel. Finally, the direction suffers from awkward pacing that saps suspense from the action and allows the comedic moments to drag until they wear out the welcome. All these elements make this a movie that fails to deliver the electrically charged fun of a good drive-in film. In short, Avenging Angel can only be recommended to hardcore b-movie devotees. ~ Donald Guarisco, Rovi