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Fallen Angels (American TV series)

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This article is about the U.S. anthology series. For the Australian legal drama, see Fallen Angels (Australian TV series).

Fallen Angels
VHS cover
Also known asPerfect Crimes (in Europe)
GenreAnthology
Neo-noir
Developed bySteve Golin
Presented byLynette Walden (season 1)
Narrated byMiguel Ferrer (season 2)
Opening themeElmer Bernstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes15
Production
Executive producerSydney Pollack
ProducersSteve Golin
William Horberg
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesPropaganda Films
Mirage Enterprises
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseAugust 1, 1993 (1993-08-01) –
November 19, 1995 (1995-11-19)

Fallen Angels is an American neo-noir anthology television series that ran from August 1, 1993, to November 19, 1995, on the Showtime pay cable station and was produced by Propaganda Films. No first-run episodes were shown in 1994.

The series was executive produced by Sydney Pollack and produced by Steve Golin and others. The theme song was written by Elmer Bernstein and the original music was written by Peter Bernstein.

Each episode is based on a story by a noted hardboiled crime writer, including Raymond Chandler, Jim Thompson, Cornell Woolrich, James Ellroy, Evan Hunter, Mickey Spillane, Dashiell Hammett and Walter Mosley.

Period torch songs by performers like Patti Page and Billie Holiday were used periodically.

In Europe, the show is known as Perfect Crimes and shown in France on Canal +, and in the United Kingdom.

Crew

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Directors:

Writers:

Guest stars

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First Season (1993)

Second Season (1995)

Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
16August 1, 1993 (1993-08-01)September 26, 1993 (1993-09-26)
29October 8, 1995 (1995-10-08)November 19, 1995 (1995-11-19)

Season 1 (1993)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Dead-End for Delia"Phil JoanouScott FrankAugust 1, 1993 (1993-08-01)

Detective Kelley (Gary Oldman) is called to investigate the murder of his wife Delia (Gabrielle Anwar), a dance-hall hostess.
 • Awards: Two CableACE Awards — Gary Oldman, Outstanding Actor; Declan Quinn, Direction of Photography.

Original Source: William Campbell Gault (1910–1995), novelette of the same name published in Black Mask Magazine, November 1950
22"I'll Be Waiting"Tom HanksC. Gaby MitchellAugust 15, 1993 (1993-08-15)

Eve Cressy (Marg Helgenberger) is a gangster's moll who awaits the return of her lover from prison. She meets hotel detective Tony Reseck (Bruno Kirby), whose attempt to protect her ends in violence.
 • Featured Song: Patti Page, "Why Don't You Love Me."
 • The episode was filmed at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, where in 1968 Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated the evening he won the California presidential Democratic Party primary.

Original Source: Raymond Chandler (1888–1959), short story of the same name and published in The Saturday Evening Post, October 14, 1939
33"The Quiet Room"Steven SoderberghHoward A. RodmanAugust 29, 1993 (1993-08-29)

Streeter (Joe Mantegna) and brutal Creighton (Bonnie Bedelia) are corrupt cops of the Los Angeles Police Department whose antics lead to a tragic end when a shakedown plan goes awry.
 • Awards: One Emmy nomination — Bonnie Bedelia, Outstanding Guest Actress/Drama.

Original Source: Jonathan Craig (pseudonym of Frank E. Smith [1919–1984]), short story of the same name published in Manhunt Magazine, December 1953
44"The Frightening Frammis"Tom CruiseJon Robin Baitz & Howard A. RodmanSeptember 5, 1993 (1993-09-05)

Mitch Allison (Peter Gallagher) steals $25,000 from his con-artist wife Bette (Nancy Travis) and jumps on a train hoping to double the money in a gambling scam.
 • Awards: One CableACE Awards nomination — Isabella Rossellini, Outstanding Actress.

Original Source: Jim Thompson (1906–1977), novelette of the same name and published in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, February 1957
55"Murder Obliquely"Alfonso CuarónAmanda SilverSeptember 19, 1993 (1993-09-19)

Annie (Laura Dern) falls in love with a millionaire who has another lover and is not afraid to show it.
 • Awards: One CableACE Award — Emmanuel Lubezki, Direction of Photography. One Emmy nomination, Laura Dern, Outstanding Guest Actress/Drama.
 • Featured Song: Billie Holiday, "Yesterdays."

Original Source: Cornell Woolrich (1903–1968), novelette Violence, published in 1958 from Woolrich's short story "Death Escapes the Eye" published in Shadow Magazine April–May 1947
66"Since I Don't Have You"Jonathan KaplanSteven A. KatzSeptember 26, 1993 (1993-09-26)

Fixer and bag-man Buzz Meeks (Gary Busey) is hired by two of his bosses: the multi-talented Howard Hughes (Tim Matheson) and the mafia gangster Mickey Cohen (James Woods). After investigating, Meeks discovers the woman whom they have both fallen crazy in love with.
 • Awards: Two CableACE Awards nominations — James Woods, Outstanding Actor; Gary Busey, Outstanding Actor.
 • Notes: James Ellroy said of this episode,"I thought Gary Busey was a bad Buzz Meeks, James Woods an ineffectual Mickey Cohen and Tim Matheson was great as Howard Hughes."

Original Source: James Ellroy (1948– ), novelette of the same name published in the mystery and suspense anthology A Matter of Crime, edited by Bruccoli and Layman, and published in 1988; The story was later included in a noir anthology series Ellroy published named Hollywood Nocturne in 1994

Season 2 (1995)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
71"Love and Blood"Kiefer SutherlandFrank PuglieseOctober 8, 1995 (1995-10-08)

A boxer's wife (Mädchen Amick) is unhappy with her marriage and leaves her husband Matt Cordell (Kiefer Sutherland) for another man. Later she wants to give the marriage another chance. Cordell is framed for a murder.
 • Awards: One CableACE Awards nomination, Frank Pugliese, Screenplay

Original source: Evan Hunter, short story published in Manhunt Magazine, July 1954, as "Return".
82"Professional Man"Steven SoderberghHoward A. RodmanOctober 15, 1995 (1995-10-15)

Johnny Lamb (Brendan Fraser) has two jobs: he's an elevator operator by day and a hit man by night. His boss (Peter Coyote) sends him on a job that makes Lamb confront his conscience.
 • Awards: One CableACE Awards nomination — Steven Soderbergh, Directing a Drama Series.

Original source: David Goodis (1917–1967), short story of the same name and published in Manhunt Magazine, October 1953
93"A Dime a Dance"Peter BogdanovichAllan ScottOctober 22, 1995 (1995-10-22)

A police detective (Eric Stoltz) investigates the untimely death of a nightclub dancer at a local hang-out but his investigation is called off by the police brass even though the killer is still on the loose.

Original source: Cornell Woolrich (1903–1968), novelette The Dancing Detective and published in Black Mask Magazine, February 1938
104"Good Housekeeping"Michael LehmannScott McGeheeOctober 29, 1995 (1995-10-29)

The life of an ordinary housewife (Dana Delany) is transformed when she falls for a mafioso (Adam Baldwin).

Original source: Bruno Fischer (1908–1992), novella No Escape! and published in Detective Tales, January 1949
115"Tomorrow I Die"John DahlSteven KatzNovember 5, 1995 (1995-11-05)

Hollywood actor Rich Thurber (Bill Pullman) gets off the bus and enters a bar to quench his thirst. The bar is taken over by tough bank thieves who mistake Thurber for a local politician.

Original source: Mickey Spillane (1918–2006), short story "I'll Die Tomorrow" and published in Cavalier Magazine, March 1960
126"The Black Bargain"Keith GordonDon MacphersonNovember 19, 1995 (1995-11-19)

A mobster (Miguel Ferrer) is hiding out in a hotel room and one by one his friends, like Augie (Peter Berg), abandon him.

Original source: Cornell Woolrich (1903–1968), story "The Night of February 17, 1924" published in Justice Magazine, January 1956. In 1958 the story was included in a collection of stories written by Woolrich titled Hotel Room
137"Fly Paper"Tim HunterDonald E. WestlakeUnaired

A well known socialite (Kristin Minter), known to hang out at nightclubs and involved with gambler Babe McClure (Michael Rooker), is missing. The Continental Op (Christopher Lloyd) is hired by the family to help find their daughter.

Original source: Dashiell Hammett (1894–1961), novelette of the same name and published in Black Mask Magazine, August 1929. Hammett wrote a series of The Continental Op stories
148"Red Wind"Agnieska HollandAlan TrustmanUnaired

Philip Marlowe (Danny Glover) investigates a series of murders.

Original source: Raymond Chandler (1888–1959), novella of the same name and published in Dime Detective, January 1938
159"Fearless"Jim McBrideRichard C. WesleyUnaired

In South Los Angeles, Fearless Jones (Bill Nunn) and Paris Minton (Giancarlo Esposito) try to help nightclub jazz singer Deletha (Cynda Williams) steal her singing contract from the nightclub manager.

Original source: Walter Mosley (1952– ), novelette of the same name and published in the mystery and suspense anthology Spooks, Spies, and Private Eyes, edited by Paula L. Woods, 1995

Reprints

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Stories from the second season are reprinted in various volumes:

  • "Flypaper" in The Big Knockover, and several Hammett collections.
  • "Dancing Detective" in the Ibooks edition of Rear Window.
  • "Professional Man" published in New Crimes, edited by Maxim Jakabowski.
  • "No Escape!" published in As Tough as They Come, edited by Will Oursler.
  • "Tomorrow I Die" in A Century of Noir.
  • "Red Wind," in several Chandler collections.

Reception

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When it debuted, Fallen Angels received mixed to critical notices. In his review for the Associated Press, Scott Williams wrote, "We're asking a lot of TV to deliver entertainment about that stylish, moral abyss. Fallen Angels delivers. It lets us look over the edge and measure our souls against the darkness".[2] The Chicago Sun-Times gave the series two out of four stars and Ginny Holbert wrote, "Part of the problem is the series' arch, self-conscious obsession with style. Instead of a '90s interpretation of film noir, Fallen Angels offers contrived, full-color cliche noir, replete with cocked fedoras, plumes of curling smoke and harsh sunlight sliced by venetian blinds".[3] In his review for The New York Times, John J. O'Connor called it, "uneven but diverting, even when just hovering around film-school level".[4] In his review for the Houston Chronicle, Louis B. Parks wrote, "The big problem with film noir homages is they usually overdo the ingredients, with none of the subtlety of the great originals. Fallen Angels has a touch of that. But the directors and actors play straight, and the adaptations, taken from the real McCoy writers, are pretty good stuff".[5]

In his review for The Washington Post, Tom Shales wrote, "Creating period pieces out of their period seems to be fairly easy now for the gifted artisans of Hollywood. Even by today's commonplace high standards, however, the look and feel of the six Fallen Angels films seem transportingly authentic and sensuous, stylized in ways that evoke the milieu without spoofing it. Occasionally, the films veer into the arch and ridiculous, but overall, they at least look darn good".[6] Newsweek magazine's David Gates wrote, "no show this summer will do a better job of whisking you away from the increasingly unacceptable '90s. These half hours are all too short".[7] Entertainment Weekly magazine's Lisa Schwarzbaum wrote, "One unintended result of all this happy, naughty cigarette-puffing, however, is that, at their weakest, these films look like the work of boys (and don't be fooled, this is a boys' fantasy production) dressed up in their dads' big suits".[8]

Home media

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In the United States the first season was released in a two volume VHS set. The second season was released in Europe (DVD region 2) in 1999 and Australia (DVD region 4) under the title Perfect Crimes.

Other media

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Grove Press released a companion book, Six Noir Tales Told for Television, (1993) with all the original stories and the screenplays from the first season. A soundtrack was also released.

References

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  1. ^ ROGER GUENVEUR SMITH – Resume | Alta Global Media
  2. ^ Williams, Scott (July 30, 1993). "Call It "Cable Noir"". Associated Press.
  3. ^ Holbert, Ginny (July 30, 1993). "Showtime's Angels Loses on Style Points". Chicago Sun-Times.
  4. ^ O'Connor, John J (July 30, 1993). "Noir for 90's Made From Spice Old Ingredients". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Parks, Louis B (August 1, 1993). "Showtime's anthology series looks at the dark side". Houston Chronicle.
  6. ^ Shales, Tom (August 1, 1993). "Angels With Dirty Faces". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Gates, David (August 2, 1993). "Angels With Very Shady Faces". Newsweek.
  8. ^ Schwarzbaum, Lisa (July 30, 1993). "Fallen Angels". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
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