Friday, April 29, 2011

Angel Baby (1961)


Allied Artists
Directed by Paul Wendkos
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Archive Collection)

Southern Evangelical preacher George Hamilton heals young Salome Jens one night in his revival tent. Able to speak for the first time in her life, she feels the calling and becomes a preacher in her own right. A slimy manager tries to profit from her popularity, leading to her eventual downfall. However, it's not the religion but the love triangle between Hamilton, Salome and his wife-in-name-only Mercedes McCambridge that is central to the story. McCambridge overdoes the angst at times in a difficult role. She's ignored by Hamilton when she tries to seduce him. Her jealousy drives her to destroy Jens in a memorable finale that literally brings the house down.

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