Fallen Angel (1981 film)

Production

The screenplay for Fallen Angel was written by Lew Hunter, and went through fourteen rewrites. Jim Green, arguing that he "did not want to make this film [and] CBS asked [us] to make it," was focused on avoiding sensationalism common in too many television films.

Plot

As the film opens, a child pornography shoot is disrupted when its young star Michelle (Cheshire) 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 (Hayward) 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).

By chance, Jennifer shows up at the local video arcade while Howard is there posting an ad for the girls' softball team he coaches at the town rec center. He strikes up a brief conversation and gives her a quarter. She runs into him again while leaving. After snapping a Polaroid photo of Jennifer, Howard tells her she looks like Farrah Fawcett and that she would be great in movies. Jennifer then mentions her late father appeared as an extra in a Burt Reynolds film, then tells of his recent passing, to which Howard expresses sympathy. Before she departs, he takes another picture and asks Jennifer if she'd be interested in joining his softball team, to which she agrees. The next day, an argument erupts between Jennifer and Sherry over unfinished housework, which culminates in Jennifer being struck. Angrily, she speeds away from the house on her bicycle and rides to the rec center, where Howard is just winding down a game. Getting her alone, he asks Jennifer if she has a nickname; when she tells him no, he dubs her "Angel" before taking yet another picture, this time comparing her to Raquel Welch. Upon learning of her problems at home, he tells her to make things right, then come back tomorrow and he'll sign her up for his team. As she leaves, Howard rescinds his earlier comparison, telling her "you know why you don't look like Raquel? You're sexier."

Following a 13th birthday celebration at the coffee shop where Sherry works as a waitress, Jennifer again spends the day with Howard, who gives her a teddy bear (which she names Howard, after him) and sets up an impromptu photo shoot by the lake. Things start fairly innocent, but Howard soon asks her to lift her knee-length skirt and "show a little skin" while posing. When she proves reluctant to do so, Howard attempts to explain to her about "the beauty of the human body", even showing her some pornographic magazines, but then backs off. He does, however, make Jennifer promise to "keep our real friendship a secret." The next day, Sherry announces to Jennifer that she and Frank are going to look at engagement rings, which sets off another argument; in a fit of rage, Jennifer pushes the contents of her dresser over, then punches a framed photo of her with her parents, causing her hand to bleed. While with Howard at the rec center later, he treats her injury and inquires about Jennifer's home situation, commenting "sometimes parents don't care whether you're alive or dead... you wonder why they had you in the first place" and mentioning his own abusive childhood.

Afterwards, he takes her to the local animal shelter to give her a puppy, whom she names Fred, but asks Jennifer to "just tell your mom you found him." They then head back to the lake for another photo shoot, with Howard now suggesting Jennifer pose without her blouse and shorts, but telling her "you can keep your bra and panties on, they cover more than a bikini anyway." Assuring Jennifer he'd never hurt her, she finally agrees to pose, no doubt swayed by Howard's offer to give her a full set of prints, "like a real movie star." Having decided she's ready to make her "debut", Howard arranges for Jennifer to come to the house where Dennis does his filming. After a brief meeting, Dennis realizes she's exactly what he's looking for, but Howard attempts to stop him, wanting Jennifer all to himself. However, Dennis reiterates his threat to tip off the authorities and make Howard the fall guy, and Howard backs off.

Jennifer is then teamed with a boy about her age named David (Gunn), and the two start out posing for a variety of fairly innocent shots (mostly depicting the pair kissing and cuddling), but during a shoot at the lake, Howard asks them to pose nude. A seasoned veteran, David cooperates, but Jennifer refuses. Using his manipulative tactics, Howard tells Jennifer, "I need you very much," then asks her, "Does anyone in the world need you? Your mother? Her boyfriend?" and reminds her "I'm all you have... if you don't, you'll lose me." Finally, after he threatens to "send Fred back," a tearful Jennifer reluctantly complies, with Howard reminding her to "deny everything" and "always say no" if caught. As it turns out, Jennifer is caught when Frank spots her in a kiddie porn magazine ad that some "idiot sheet metal guys" had on one of his stops, which he informs Sherry of. Remembering what Howard told her, Jennifer denies everything when confronted, but convinced she can no longer stay at home, later runs away. She attempts to ask Howard for a place to stay (as he put his three young male stars up in a nearby apartment), but he initially refuses, only to change his mind when Jennifer gets flirtatious, assuring Howard "I'll make it up to you" and reminding him how she's "getting older and better."

Upon returning home, Sherry finds her daughter's goodbye letter (in which Jennifer admits to having been the girl in the magazine ad) and begins searching adult establishments and popular hangouts in the area. Later, she goes to the rec center, where Howard feigns surprise over Jennifer's disappearance and absence at that evening's ballgame, but promises to talk to her and send her home if he finds her. In reality, Jennifer is at the boys' apartment and avoided the game at Howard's suggestion ("it's almost the first place they'll look"). Before leaving the ball field, it suddenly occurs to Sherry to check the second number Howard had given her earlier as his "answering service," and she calls the police station to get the corresponding address. Meanwhile, Howard stops by the apartment before heading home, sends the boys into the other room and attempts to seduce Jennifer. However, only moments before he can go through with his devious plans, he's stopped in the nick of time by an angry Sherry, who now fully understands exactly what Howard was doing, and flies into a rage at him before leaving with her daughter and the boys.

Subsequently arrested for his illegal activities, Howard prepares for the impending trial with his attorney, reviewing his testimony and attempting to justify his perversions (during which time we learn that Howard's former "angel" Michelle has been institutionalized, making her the "Fallen Angel" of the title). Meanwhile, the prosecution wants Jennifer to testify against Howard, but Sherry refuses to allow it, feeling they need to move on. However, Frank is more objective, admitting that while he's worried about what will happen to Jennifer if she testifies, he's also worried about what will happen to other kids if she doesn't, telling Sherry "this could be the most important decision she's ever made" and encouraging Jennifer to think about it. Gradually realizing she needs to do the right thing, Jennifer's decision is solidified by a subsequent chance encounter with Howard, who has been released on bail and attempts to talk her out of testifying. The film ends with Jennifer taking the witness stand during Howard's trial, ready to tell her story.

Cast

Reception

People magazine offered a favorable critique of "Fallen Angel," noting, "Despite its length and occasional artificiality, a grounded script prevents the film from descending into sanctimonious voyeurism." The New York Times commended the film's thoughtful and earnest portrayal of its themes, stating, "It provides a significant addition to the ongoing discourse."