Angel, Angel, Down We Go

Angel, Angel, Down We Go, also known as Cult of the Damned, is a 1969 American film directed by playwright and screenwriter Robert Thom. It is Thom's sole directorial credit. Thom had previously written Wild in the Streets for American International Pictures, which distributed this follow-up. The film was made for Sam Katzman's Four Leaf Productions.[2][3] Thom based his screenplay on an unproduced stage play of the same title which he wrote c.1960 as a vehicle for his wife, actress Janice Rule.[1]

Angel, Angel, Down We Go
Film poster
Directed byRobert Thom
Produced byJerome F. Katzman
Written byRobert Thom
StarringJennifer Jones
Jordan Christopher
Roddy McDowall
Music byBarry Mann
Cynthia Weil
CinematographyJohn F. Warren
Edited byEve Newman
Production
company
Four Leaf Productions
Distributed byAmerican International Pictures (US)
Release date
  • November 26, 1969 (1969-11-26) (LA)
  • February 3, 1971 (1971-02-03) (NYC)
[1]
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Premise

The overweight, emotionally troubled daughter (Holly Near) of an affluent but brittle Hollywood couple (Jennifer Jones and Charles Aidman) gets caught up with a charismatic rock singer (Jordan Christopher) and his friends. The singer proceeds to seduce and manipulate her entire family.

Cast

Production

In August 1960 Thom, best known for writing the film Compulsion, announced he would direct a play Angel Angel Down We Go starring this then wife Janice Rule. It would be presented by Leland Hayward in December and was about a group of New York University students in Greenwich Village.[4] By November Hawyward said production was not going ahead because he had been unable to find a director and a theatre.[5] In August 1961 the play was acquired by a company, Theatrical Interests Plan.[6] In September 1962 Shirley Knight was going to star.[7]

The Broadway production did not occur and Thom turned it into a film script. Film rights were bought by Sam Katzman who sourced finance from AIP.[8]

Jones signed in December 1968 and filming began 18 February 1969.[3][9] Jordan Christopher, married to Richard Burton's ex wife Sybil, signed to co star.[10]

The part of the daughter was played by Holly Near who had not planned to be in movies but had been invited to audition off the back of her appearance at the Hugh O'Brian awards. "I got the part because I was beautiful and because I was fat," recalled Near in her memoir, adding that Thom asked her to put on a few pounds for the movie.[11]

Near said Jones "was the grand dame that she deserved to be. I watched her struggle with her part, with her role, with her fear. I felt like an ugly ducking next to an aging swan."[12]

Near wrote that she felt Thom "didn't have much compassion for my character... I struggled to give her dignity where there was none... I always wondered why Robert wanted to make this film."[12]

Songs

The songs in the film – "Angel Angel Down We Go," "The Fat Song," "Hey Hey Hey and a Hi Ho," "Lady Lady," "Mother Lover" and "Revelation" – were written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, and were sung by Jordan Christopher.[1]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "a pretentious mess" although "it can never be said to bore."[13]

According to the New York Times the film was "an unmitigated financial disaster."[14] "It was trash," said Near.[15]

AIP tried re-releasing the film as The Cult of the Damned in 1970. It was issued on a double bill with The Vampire Lovers. The Los Angeles Times called it "a terrible piece of trash."[16]

See also

References
  1. Angel, Angel, Down We Go at the American Film Institute Catalog
  2. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Bill Holden Signed for 'Tree' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 21 Dec 1968: a6.
  3. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Jennifer Jones Set for Role Los Angeles Times 12 Dec 1968: f33.
  4. FEUER AND MARTIN ACQUIRE THEATRE: Producers of Musicals Get Lunt-Fontanne -- Robert Thom to Direct Show By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 15 Aug 1960: 19.
  5. HAL MARCH IS SET FOR SPRING PLAY: Gets Starring Role in 'Come Blow Your Horn' -- Sydney Chaplin in Line for Part By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 30 Nov 1960: 42.
  6. INVESTMENT UNIT ACQUIRES COMEDY: Theatrical Interests Plan to Produce Play About Co-ed By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 2 Aug 1961: 17.
  7. Red Skelton Is Touched by Antique Shop Incident Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963); Chicago, Ill. [Chicago, Ill]07 Sep 1962: b10.
  8. Bye, Bye, Beach Bunnies: Bye, Bye, Beach Bunnies By VINCENT CANBY. New York Times 2 Mar 1969: D1.
  9. MOVIE CALL SHEET: Kennedy Joins 'Airport' Cast Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 7 Dec 1968: a8.
  10. Jennifer Jones, Christopher to Costar The Washington Post, Times Herald 4 Dec 1968: B17.
  11. Near p 43
  12. Near p 44
  13. Jennifer Jones in 'Angels' Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 28 Nov 1969: e32.
  14. Harmetz, Aljean (4 August 1974). "The dime-store way to make movies-and money". New York Times. p. 202.
  15. Near p 46
  16. 'Vampire' Showing in Multiples Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 27 Nov 1970: h24.

Notes
  • Near, Holly; Richardson, Derk (1990). Fire in the rain-- singer in the storm : an autobiography. W. Morrow.
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