O Diabo na Carne

This may have been actress Salome Jens first movie roll, and although when it was released in 1961 she did not receive star billing over more recognized names such as George Hamilton (Reverend Paul Strand), Mercedes McCambridge (the cold fish wife Sarah Strand), and the two hucksters Joan Blondell (Mollie Hays) and her husband Henry Jones (Ben Hays), Salome Jens was not only more deserving of star billing, her role as Angel Baby, the mute beautiful young women who once again finds her voice, and through this miracle she finds God the healer.

I sometimes wonder why some films receive praise (mainly because of a singular performance by a great actor/actress) and other great films with a unique story line and stellar performances by the entire cast such as in the 1961 film Angel Baby are totally ignored. Maybe because stories regarding Evangelist and/or religion are perceived as "subliminal messaging".

The message I received from this film was simply it was a superb film with an interesting story line, and with the leading actress Salome Jens stealing every scene she appeared in.

I rate this classic film an excellent 8 out of 10 IMDb rating.

Judging by this movie, you never would have guessed what lay ahead for Hollywood legend George Hamilton and future number one movie star in the world Burt Reynolds.

Plot In A Paragraph: A woman who believes she has been chosen by God to heal people is taken in by a greedy promoter and his wife to make the rounds of the rural South - she to save souls and heal the sick, he to make as much money as he possibly can.

I was not very entertained watching this, and I only made it all the way through because of George Hamilton and a young Burt Reynolds.

This was Burt Reynolds first role and I found the movie less interesting when he was not on the screen. Even if his character Hook Adams was the local thug in the picture.

That said Reynolds fight with Hamilton is awfully staged, and you can see their youthful inexperience.

And here, all I remembered of "Angel Baby" was Mercedes McCambridge as a lady evangelist offering her wisdom to poor misguided George Hamilton. That plus, of course, a *quite* young Burt Reynolds playing a thuggish local lad.

Believe me, watching this crew was a spiritual experience...

About 1970 friends and I were on our way back to Sydney following a 2-weel driving vacation to Queensland. We stopped overnight in the small 'bush' town of Bourke (New South Wales). It was there we set up camp for the night and then decided to seek out a movie theater. We found such a theater in a beautiful outdoor garden setting . . .I can't recall its name.

Anyway, the movie showing that night was 'Angel Baby' which we hadn't heard about before. I remember the title not appealing to me at all but the theater setting was gorgeous as well as the night itself. The three of us (me, a friend and 11 year-old Peter) positioned ourselves on blankets on the lawn. Then, for the first time, we saw 'Angel Baby'. It impacted greatly on the 3 of us and we thought about it and talked about it for weeks after. We couldn't get out of our minds the miraculous healing of the cripple boy at the movie's conclusion.

Years later I became a Christian and had the opportunity to see that movie again on TV just a couple of years ago. I'd love to be able to thank the movie cast and particularly Salome Jens for having inspired me (us) back in 1970 and even today. Thanks!

Evangelist faith-healer Paul Strand (George Hamilton) travels the American south with his wife Sarah (Mercedes McCambridge), Mollie Hays (Joan Blondell), and Ben Hays (Henry Jones) to preach to the masses in a tent. Angel Baby (Salome Jens) has been mute since childhood. She is drawn to the meeting where Paul somehow heals her. The group takes her under their wings and turns her into an orator. Her boyfriend Hoke Adams (Burt Reynolds) gets jealous.

It is interesting that the film starts with text saying this may not be suitable for impressable children. I can imagine some blowback from the religious community. Many characters are drawn too broadly. Burt Reynolds is in his first movie and he is probably one of those broad characters. I would like less of the romantic melodrama. There are some interesting elements, but the film does struggle in the mix.