Fallen Angels Season 1, Episode 1: “Dead-End for Delia”
Plot: Detective Kelley, a hard-boiled cop, is called to investigate the murder of his wife Delia, a dance-hall hostess. Kelley recalls his past with Delia and what happened via a very convoluted point-of-view.
Directed by: Phil Joanou
Written by: William Cambell Gault (based on his short story); Scott Frank
Cinematography by: Declan Quinn
Studio: Showtime; Propoganda Pictures
Runtime: 35 Minutes
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you’re spending time with some people you are grateful for. Since you’re either about to eat or about to sleep, today’s noir dispatch will be short. I hope you enjoy.
On the heels of the neo-noir craze of the 1980s, Showtime created “Fallen Angels,” a neo-noir anthology show set in Los Angeles after WWII and before JFK was elected. Each episode is its own self contained story. Looking at the list of actors and directors is enough to make anybody curious. Tom Cruise and Kiefer Sutherland directed episodes. Brendan Fraser and Laura Dern acted in episodes. If that doesn’t whet your whistle, or at least get you curious, then I just don’t know how to help you.
I thought the first episode would be a good place to start. You can bet there will be some more newsletters dedicated to this program.
Gary Oldman plays a detective who shows up to a crime scene and finds that the victim is his wife. As he investigates her murder, he uncovers things about her he never knew. And in true noir fashion, he learns things about himself as well. Oldman is great here as a slow boiling cop who works his way to an emotional outburst. The cast features Meg Tilley, Wayne Knight, and Dan Hedaya. The episode is shot to look soft and smoky. There’s a great narration at the beginning and a solid jazz score. If you only have 35 minutes, this will quench your noir thirst.
Scott Frank adapted “Dead End for Delia” from a short story by William Campbell Gault. If you don’t know Frank, you certainly know his previous work. He wrote and directed Queen’s Gambit. He also wrote the screenplay for Logan, Out of Sight, Walk Among the Tombstones, and Minority Report, to name a few. Yeah, he’s the man. He wrote and directed a really sharp crime film in 2007 called The Lookout starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I highly recommend it.
Alright, I’ll let you get back to your regularly scheduled Thanksgiving activity. The link for the episode is below in case you’re interested. It looks like Showtime hasn’t made this widely available. So we’re thankful for people that upload stuff like this to YouTube. I’m thankful you subscribe. Stay safe and stay observant.