After the success of 7TH HEAVEN, Frank Borzage reunited Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell with the same cinematographer and art director. If not as transcendant as 7TH HEAVEN, it still packs a punch.
In Naples, as a circus troupe arrive, Angela needs money to pay for her sick mother's medicine. After a failed attempt at prostitution, she instead attempts to steal money but is caught.
Escaping from a year in prison, Angela discovers her mother dead. Evading the police, Angela hides out with the circus troupe who recruit her as an acrobat.
On the road she meets Gino a travelling painter who is smitten with Angela who, initially unsure, realizes the depth of his love when he paints her portrait.
After an accident, Gino takes her away from the circus to his home in Naples, much to Angela's alarm.
On the night Gino proposes, Angela's past catches up with her...
Shelf or charity shop? A keeper (well it's on the same dvd as 7TH HEAVEN!). Frank Borzage once again sweeps his characters - and audience - along in an operatic sweep of emotion as again the love of two 'little people' is tested to breaking point. Borzage can again count on the marvellous camerawork of Ernest Palmer - particularly in the ominous finale - and Sidney Oliver's sets are worthy of an Opera House production of a Puccini opera. In an odd twist, both Palmer and Oliver were nominated for Academy Awards for the year after the film was released; STREET ANGEL is the only American film to be nominated over two years as Janet Gaynor's Best Actress award for this film, 7TH SEAVEN and SUNRISE had been given the year before. Gaynor does all the heavy lifting and is quietly magnificent, Charles Farrell just has to look lovingly at her until his last act disintegration. The supporting cast have few moments to shine apart from Natalie Kingston's sly tart Lisetta.
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