Fallen Angel (1981 film)
| Fallen Angel | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Lew Hunter |
| Directed by | Robert Michael Lewis |
| Starring |
Melinda Dillon Richard Masur Dana Hill Ronny Cox |
| Theme music composer | Richard Bellis |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Allen S. Epstein Jim Green |
| Producer(s) |
Audrey A. Blasdel (as Audrey Blasdel-Goddard) Pat Butler (associate producer) Lew Hunter (producer) |
| Cinematography | Michael D. Margulies |
| Editor(s) | Robert F. Shugrue |
| Running time | 96 min. |
| Production company(s) |
Columbia Pictures Television Green/Epstein Productions |
| Distributor | CBS |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBS |
| Original release | February 24, 1981 |
Fallen Angel is a 1981 made-for-TV film which explores pedophilia. It was directed by Robert Michael Lewis, written by Lew Hunter, and stars Dana Hill, Melinda Dillon, Richard Masur, and Ronny Cox. It is a Green/Epstein Production in association with Columbia Pictures Television. The film received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Drama Special, and won a Young Artist Award for star Hill in the category of Best Young Actress.
After its initial airing on CBS, it was later released on VHS by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video in 1983, and turned up occasionally via syndication and cable television into the mid-1990s.
As the film opens, a child pornography shoot is disrupted when its young star Michelle refuses to perform, throwing a tantrum over a promised visit to the zoo. The man who recruited her, pedophile Howard "Howie" Nichols (Masur), attempts to reason with director Dennis, claiming he "just needs a few days" (in order for Michelle to have an abortion, as Howard had gotten her pregnant). However, Dennis has already made up his mind to dump Michelle and gives Howard an ultimatum: find a more cooperative young "star" or he'll blow the whistle on the operation and disappear, leaving Howard to take the rap. Faced with this threat, Howard agrees to begin searching for a new girl to take Michelle's place. 12-year-old Jennifer Phillips (Hill), a recent elementary school graduate and aspiring gymnast fits the mold perfectly. She was voted "Most Shy" in her class, her father was recently killed in a robbery of his catering truck, she feels unable to communicate with her mother Sherry (Dillon), and she cannot accept her mother's new boyfriend (who was also her father's co-worker), Frank Dawson (Cox).
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