Rating: 
Summary: Banal and trite
Review: A western film before the spaghetti time. John Wayne is equal to himself and the situation is very banal. A badman in the west escape the rope by falling in love with a quaker girl who moves him out of his weapons. He becomes a farmer. A rare case of conversion that succeeds. Apart from that the film is too moralistic to be really an image of the west anywhere and at any time. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Rating: 
Summary: ANGEL & THE BADMAN.
Review: An excellent early John Wayne western co starring Gail Russell and Harey Carey. Angel and the Badman is also one of John Wayne's earliest famous, full length films. The plot involves a skilled gunfighter, (Wayne), who is wounded after killing opponents in a shootout. He rides into a Quaker hometown, where he falls seriously ill. A Quaker family takes the man in and treats him like a person in a hospital that cares deeply for their patients. The family daughter (Russell), shows genuine affection for the outlaw, and takes him away from the violent life of killing and drinking. However, Wayne shows hatred for the gang that has arrived in town, and is tempted to kill the leader (Bruce Cabot). The strong and mysterious hangman appears like a ghost to convince John Wayne's character that he is going to be hanged sooner or later. The climax is exciting, with Wayne having to make a fateful decision.
The sets, costumes, and story are all well made. However, the killings that take place during a cattle rustling scene and end gunfight are very realistic, and make the scenes in the new (bad) slasher flick "Kill Bill" look even more cartoonish and fake than they already do. But, forget that film and watch "Angel and Badman" for western entertainment and exciting moments. Fans of the Duke and Gail Russell will also consider this a classic. It is a classic anyway.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best westerns ever made
Review: Angel and the Badman is as good a proof as you can find that good westerns aren't just about riding, shooting, dueling, and killing. The truly great old westerns featured some of the tightest, most compelling plots that you will ever find. This is the first of the John Wayne Productions released by Republic Pictures, and it is a true John Wayne classic. Needless to say, the Duke plays the "badman" as opposed to the angel, an outlaw of sorts with a complicated past in which he evolved from a lawman alongside Wyatt Earp in Tombstone to a cattle-rustling, gambling man with an eye for the ladies. To quote only one of the great lines in this film, Quirt Evans (John Wayne) closed the eyes of many a man and opened the eyes of many a woman. Quirt starts to change, though, when he collapses from a gunshot wound outside the home of a Quaker family transplanted from Pennsylvania to the Old West. Penelope, the young lady of the family immediately falls in love with him, and it is obvious that Quirt is in turn touched by this angel from the very start. It seems a little odd that the family of Friends would be so welcoming and accommodating to the budding attraction going on, considering Quirt's past, but they see only the good in the man. Farm life is not Quirt's natural calling, and he admittedly slips from the path of virtue, but in time he faces up to the fact that he has indeed changed. Of course, happiness is not insured at this point, as the local marshal still has hopes of hanging Quirt some day, and the man who killed Quirt's foster father remains a real threat to him. The ending is not exactly unpredictable, but it is heart-warming and entertaining all the same. Great actors filling great roles from top to bottom really make Angel and the Badman a benchmark film to which other westerns should be judged. Gail Russell is indeed an angel more than capable of touching and reforming the crustiest of men, and I can assure you she is not the kind of Quaker woman I would quite have envisioned; she could easily make an instant farmer out of me. The Duke is, well, he's the Duke; the man incapable of giving a bad performance is at his best in this film. You have to love the minor characters, as well. Not only does Angel and the Badman feature a string of unforgettable, entertaining minor players, it incorporates each of them into the story itself in a meaningful way, from Quirt's old buddy with a penchant for telling tales Quirt would rather not have his angel hear to the local telegraph operator whose chance encounter with the legendary cowboy sets him off bragging about his friend Quirt and their long history of friendship. Everyone associated with this movie obviously cared a great deal, and it shows; not a single facet of film-making was overlooked or ignored. Angel and the Badman clearly belongs on the short list of the greatest westerns ever made.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best westerns ever made
Review: Angel and the Badman is as good a proof as you can find that good westerns aren't just about riding, shooting, dueling, and killing. The truly great old westerns featured some of the tightest, most compelling plots that you will ever find. This is the first of the John Wayne Productions released by Republic Pictures, and it is a true John Wayne classic. Needless to say, the Duke plays the "badman" as opposed to the angel, an outlaw of sorts with a complicated past in which he evolved from a lawman alongside Wyatt Earp in Tombstone to a cattle-rustling, gambling man with an eye for the ladies. To quote only one of the great lines in this film, Quirt Evans (John Wayne) closed the eyes of many a man and opened the eyes of many a woman. Quirt starts to change, though, when he collapses from a gunshot wound outside the home of a Quaker family transplanted from Pennsylvania to the Old West. Penelope, the young lady of the family immediately falls in love with him, and it is obvious that Quirt is in turn touched by this angel from the very start. It seems a little odd that the family of Friends would be so welcoming and accommodating to the budding attraction going on, considering Quirt's past, but they see only the good in the man. Farm life is not Quirt's natural calling, and he admittedly slips from the path of virtue, but in time he faces up to the fact that he has indeed changed. Of course, happiness is not insured at this point, as the local marshal still has hopes of hanging Quirt some day, and the man who killed Quirt's foster father remains a real threat to him. The ending is not exactly unpredictable, but it is heart-warming and entertaining all the same. Great actors filling great roles from top to bottom really make Angel and the Badman a benchmark film to which other westerns should be judged. Gail Russell is indeed an angel more than capable of touching and reforming the crustiest of men, and I can assure you she is not the kind of Quaker woman I would quite have envisioned; she could easily make an instant farmer out of me. The Duke is, well, he's the Duke; the man incapable of giving a bad performance is at his best in this film. You have to love the minor characters, as well. Not only does Angel and the Badman feature a string of unforgettable, entertaining minor players, it incorporates each of them into the story itself in a meaningful way, from Quirt's old buddy with a penchant for telling tales Quirt would rather not have his angel hear to the local telegraph operator whose chance encounter with the legendary cowboy sets him off bragging about his friend Quirt and their long history of friendship. Everyone associated with this movie obviously cared a great deal, and it shows; not a single facet of film-making was overlooked or ignored. Angel and the Badman clearly belongs on the short list of the greatest westerns ever made.
Rating:
Summary: A new side to Wayne, here the woman calls the shots!
Review: I've always been a huge John Wayne fan but have only recently seen Angel and the Badman. It is now one of my favorite films! Wayne portrays a gambling, drinking, womanizing, gunslinger in the Old West. He meets a charming Quaker family that end up nursing him back to health after he's taken ill...and that's where the plot really starts. The beautiful daughter that has taken care of him finds herself smitten and when he awakens she has no reservations in telling him so. The highlight of this movie was her outright honesty about her feelings for Wayne, as a result we get to see him be the persuee for once! It's also exciting to see him struggle to decide how to make decisions in light of her passive beliefs. The most captivating thing about Angel and the Badman is that we get to see a whole new John Wayne, and wouldn't you know it, he's still as wonderful as ever!
Rating: 
Summary: O.K.
Review: In this movie, Wayne meets a Quaker family whose beliefs to say the least, is different from the cowboy Wayne portrays. Overall, it is a good movie with great actors, lines, and scenery. The plot is the thing that stinks. The ending comes out in a too "happily ever after" ending that makes this movie totally unrealistic. I wish that it would differently, but that doesn't make this movie a bad movie, it just doesn't make it the #1 Wayne movie.
Rating:
Summary: Best Wayne Movie
Review: John Wayne has made a slew of fantastic movies; this is one of them. His portrayal of a young gunslinger, Quirt Evans, rescued by a Quaker family was dead-on. The inclusion of Gail Russell as the doe-eyed Quaker farmgirl was what made the movie better than most Wayne flicks. The character of Penelope Worth accurately portrayed a young country gal unused to the gunslinger's criminal elements, yet able to steer his heart towards her. The final showdown scene illustrated her connection with the gunman which led to a romantic conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: Gail Russell lives!
Review: The 'feel good' caliber of this western classic is second to none. You'll come to appreciate almost every character- and especially that of Gail Russell's. The spiritual themes and qualities that imbue the lives of the film's charitable Quaker family are irresistible and give the film its special charm. Gail Russell, in her radiant prime, is immortalized in the role of Penny, the Quaker daughter who is willing to abandon her sheltered life for Wayne, but not her principles. Often a silent performance- her eyes communicate deeply what's in her heart. She brings a thoughtful, heartfelt presence to the film that is unforgettable, and nearly steals every scene she's in. John Wayne is also in top form and demonstrates his understated comedic talent here better than ever. (There's plenty of humorous scenes sprinkled throughout the film. Even the bad guys wry humor and sarcasm make for comic moments) Harry Carey plays a dogged, Columbo like lawman who is shadowing Wayne, looking for a good excuse to "hang him with a new rope", a fitting honor on account of how much he respects him. Dialogue is excellent with some memorable one-liners like the reference to Wayne as a fellow who has "closed the eyes of many a man, and opened the eyes of many a woman". The story has good episodic development, with interesting plot twists and timely changes of pace that allow the film to stand up to repeat viewings. Even the obligatory bar room brawl and ultimate showdown are set up uniquely and carried out in a refreshing manner. And did I mention Gail Russell? Check out the timeless scene of her tending to the lamb in the barn. Lord have mercy. I'm ready for farmer school.
Rating:
Summary: A Pre-Review
Review: The 3 stars above are on the strength of the movie itself. I'm waiting to see how good this transfer is.
I recently bought a different DVD edition of this movie (a "double feature" with a docu about Wayne's movie career as the other feature), and the transfer was literally the worst I've ever seen for any movie. It looked like it was done by pressing Silly Putty onto the film stock and then onto the DVD. Just wanted to give everyone a warning to avoid that edition.
Other reviews indicate this edition is a good transfer, so once I confirm that, I'll give it another star.
-- Edit --
This is, indeed, an excellent transfer. I've tried to add a fourth star to my rating, but Amazon's review editing page seems to be having technical difficulties. So I'll just have to say: 4 stars.
This is perhaps the only John Wayne movie in which another actor's presence overshadows his: this is a Gail Russell movie.
Rating:
Summary: A Pre-Review
Review: The 3 stars above are on the strength of the movie itself. I'm waiting to see how good this transfer is. I recently bought a different DVD edition of this movie (a "double feature" with a docu about Wayne's movie career as the other feature), and the transfer was literally the worst I've ever seen for any movie. It looked like it was done by pressing Silly Putty onto the film stock and then onto the DVD. Just wanted to give everyone a warning to avoid that edition. Other reviews indicate this edition is a good transfer, so once I confirm that, I'll give it another star.
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