Burt Reynolds make his cinematic acting debut in Paul Wendkos' evangelistic epic "Angel Baby" that was based on Elsie Oakes Barber's novel "Jenny Angel. The simple but evocative yarn chronicles the rise and fall of a mute twentysomething girl in the Deep South in the 1960s. Jenny (Salome Jens of "Seconds") is healed during a faith tent revival by a young, naive, traveling man of the cloth, Paul (George Hamilton of "By Love Possessed") , who is the epitome of sincerity. A lusty middle-aged woman, Sarah (Mercedes McCambridge of "Johnny Guitar"), found Paul in a choir and took him on the road to preach forgiveness to sinners galore. She quotes scripture and behaves in a holier than thou fashion. After Paul heals Jenny, Sarah takes her in and uses her in vignettes that depict Biblical stories. Soon, Jenny gets the itch to preach herself. Unfortunately, poor Jenny is stalked and harassed by a hunky redneck, Hoke Adams (Burt Reynolds) who fights over Jenny with Paul. Sarah learns of their fight and sends Jenny packing and proclaims Paul is riddled with lust in his heart for her.
Jenny embarks on her own evangelistic crusade with Paul's blessing. Sarah's helpers, Ben (Henry Jones of "Vertigo") and Molly Hays (Joan Blondell of "The Public Enemy"), accompany her down the road to ruin. Along the way, Jenny meets a slick, snake oil huckster, Sam Wilcox (Roger Clark of "Girls in Chains"), and promises her castles in the air. He allows her to use a meeting hall that he has and sets up an organization of telephone marketers to publicize Jenny. Inevitably, and perhaps predictably, Sam starts shelling out dollar bills to con artists to pose as crippled sinners. Jenny heals one crippled sinner, a blind man (Eddie Firestone), and overnight desperate people flock to her for salvation and healing. Inadvertently, the Hays eavesdrop on Sam while he is paying off the bogus blind man and rush to Paul to help Jenny understand that she is being exploited. Naturally, Sarah follows Paul. During the tent revival, not only does Sarah expose Jenny as a charlatan but also the man in a wheelchair as a phony. The crowd goes berserk and tears the place apart. Paul pursues Jenny as does Hoke. Paul finds Jenny in another small southern town where she heals a crippled adolescent at the behest of his parents. Is Jenny a fake or is she genuine? The answer to this question lies in your interpretation of the film.
According to IMDb.COM, "Angel Baby" was shelved so it did not steal the thunder of the Burt Lancaster movie "Elmer Gantry." Essentially, both movies share a lot in common, but "Angel Baby" is lensed on a considerably smaller budget. Nevertheless, "Gidget" director Paul Wendkos, with uncredited assistance from Hubert Cornfield of "Plunder Road," has staged this sordid drama about superstition and mysticism with so many authentic looking extras that "Angel Baby" has an authenticity about it that is terrific! The scene where a child killer confesses his sin in church out of guilt is powerfully done. Salome Jens gives such a quiet, low-key performance as the faith healer that you believe her. The gritty, black & white cinematography of Jack Marta and Haskell Wexler enhances the realism of this low-budget effort. Burt Reynolds is convincing as a young, brawny fellow who wants Jenny for himself.
Jenny embarks on her own evangelistic crusade with Paul's blessing. Sarah's helpers, Ben (Henry Jones of "Vertigo") and Molly Hays (Joan Blondell of "The Public Enemy"), accompany her down the road to ruin. Along the way, Jenny meets a slick, snake oil huckster, Sam Wilcox (Roger Clark of "Girls in Chains"), and promises her castles in the air. He allows her to use a meeting hall that he has and sets up an organization of telephone marketers to publicize Jenny. Inevitably, and perhaps predictably, Sam starts shelling out dollar bills to con artists to pose as crippled sinners. Jenny heals one crippled sinner, a blind man (Eddie Firestone), and overnight desperate people flock to her for salvation and healing. Inadvertently, the Hays eavesdrop on Sam while he is paying off the bogus blind man and rush to Paul to help Jenny understand that she is being exploited. Naturally, Sarah follows Paul. During the tent revival, not only does Sarah expose Jenny as a charlatan but also the man in a wheelchair as a phony. The crowd goes berserk and tears the place apart. Paul pursues Jenny as does Hoke. Paul finds Jenny in another small southern town where she heals a crippled adolescent at the behest of his parents. Is Jenny a fake or is she genuine? The answer to this question lies in your interpretation of the film.
According to IMDb.COM, "Angel Baby" was shelved so it did not steal the thunder of the Burt Lancaster movie "Elmer Gantry." Essentially, both movies share a lot in common, but "Angel Baby" is lensed on a considerably smaller budget. Nevertheless, "Gidget" director Paul Wendkos, with uncredited assistance from Hubert Cornfield of "Plunder Road," has staged this sordid drama about superstition and mysticism with so many authentic looking extras that "Angel Baby" has an authenticity about it that is terrific! The scene where a child killer confesses his sin in church out of guilt is powerfully done. Salome Jens gives such a quiet, low-key performance as the faith healer that you believe her. The gritty, black & white cinematography of Jack Marta and Haskell Wexler enhances the realism of this low-budget effort. Burt Reynolds is convincing as a young, brawny fellow who wants Jenny for himself.