The Angel Doll (2002)

Simply Perfect

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Occasionally marketed as a 'Christmas movie', this film has very little to do with Christmas, except that children can watch it. It was one of only two films written and directed by North Carolinian Alexander Johnston, who died immediately after it was finished, aged only 41. The film is set in Thomasville, North Carolina, in 1950, and much of it is clearly derived from real experiences. Although the film starts slowly and the first few minutes are unexciting, once the film is into its stride, it takes off due to the honesty and integrity of the director, and the marvellous performances he elicits from the two boys whose childhood friendship is portrayed, Cody Newton and Michael Welch. There is a small role for Cody's sister played very well by Lindsey Good, of whom we do not see enough, because she is always in bed with polio. The film is based upon the absolute reign of terror of the polio epidemics in America in the early 1950s, when it was not realized that the virus was transmitted by water, and many children died from it without anyone knowing how they even got the disease. How everything was transformed by the polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk later in the decade! The horror and fear were defeated, and terrible stories like this could no longer happen in the Western world. People who were not alive in 1950 cannot possibly imagine the hysteria and terror inspired by polio in America, and how it effected the movements and activities of every child in the country. This is all well documented in this film, and should be required viewing for social and medical historians. Diana Scarwid is wonderful as the hopelessly depressed alcoholic mother of Cody Newton in this bittersweet drama. The story turns on the polio-stricken little girl Sandy's obsession with angels, and her wish for an 'angel doll'. Her brother wishes to buy one for her but cannot find one, then his money is stolen by another boy, but his friend gives him his own money, and the search for the angel doll continues. A friendly black family come to the rescue, and the mother turns an ordinary doll into an angel doll for them. Everything about this charming film, narrated by Keith Carradine who plays the grown-up Michael Welch and remembers what happened in his youth, is delightful, fresh and natural. Really there ought to be more uncomplicated movies like this, which have a point but lack all affectation. Scoffers and sceptics and cynics beware, you watch an honest film like this at your peril!

This movie feels so real--like situations that happen to people in real life. Cody Newton carries the movie, and Michael Welch was really good as well.The Angel Doll is set in North Carolina in the 1950s, and it is a tale of friendship between two boys and their world around them. The challenges they face and life lessons they learn amidst the fear and panic of a polio outbreak, shape who they are and who they become. Particularly heartwarming is Whitey's (played by Newton) determination to buy an angel doll for his sick sister who loves anything that has to do with angels. I definitely recommend this movie--the actors were very good. This is a great Christmas movie.

A new Christmas Classic that truly brings back the lost message of the season. Both children and adults will enjoy the truly entertaining characters and the story line, that keeps even the youngest viewers distracted until the final credits!! Great Work, Sandy!!

I was lucky that I had sister who read the book and bought the Video when if came out at Barnes Nobles. This movie never received any publicity that I'm aware of. I know it's based on a true story about a boy growing up in a small town near me. It's amazing how even living 15 miles away, I never heard of the movie. Anyway to get back to the movie, the only thing I saw wrong was some of piano music in the beginning was a little bit hokey. The movie will remind you a lot of "Stand by Me". The actors, who for the most part are little know, deliver great performances. This is low budget film like "Breaking Away was". It will steal your heart and give older parents fond Christmas memories. The movie leaves you to wonder what happened to the little boy named "Whitey".