"The Night Angel" is ample proof that not all old films are classics. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it stinks!
The story is set in England and begins with a woman nicknamed 'the Countess' fleecing unsuspecting folks in her gin joint. She's soon arrested and sentenced to two years in jail...something she deserves and then some. However, here's where the movie begins to make no sense. You hear the family of the prosecutor talking about the case and his family all are very sympathetic to the Countess and think it's sad she is going to jail. She owns a clip joint and has a long history of defrauding people....yet suddenly folks are sympathetic towards her! And, they complain that she's been sentenced to two years! And, they are the prosecutor's family!!
If this doesn't make sense....hold on to your hats. The prosecutor (Frederic March) then sentences the Countess' young daughter (Nancy Carroll) to go to reform school...but decides instead to make her a project for his family! Hmmm....the prosecutor essentially sentences a pretty young lady to be entrusted to his care....I see no irregularities about that!! Soon, he's sexually harassing the young lady right and left...until she eventually runs away. Well, it just happens she's NOT in violation of this order, as somehow the court has decided to commute the Countess' sentence because they, too, felt sorry for a career criminal!! Does this make any sense? No....well....again, hold on to your hat....as now the young lady has somehow fallen for the prosecutor!!!
There's more but at this point I was simply disgusted by the lousy writing and couldn't take any more! My brain essentially rebelled and told me no more!!
A bad film with decent actors....and ample reason to go outside and take a walk.
