Avenging Angel 1985
Made by
New World Pictures
Avenging Angel Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Avenging Angel (1985). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Betsy Russell’s Molly Stewart is off the streets and studying to become a lawyer. When she learns that Robert F. Lyons’s Lt. Hugh Andrews—the detective who helped her leave prostitution when he became her guardian—has been murdered, she returns to the streets and takes on the alter ego Angel to chase down his killer.
To pursue justice, she reconnects with her old circle of allies, Kit Carson, Solly Mosler, and Angel, in a bid to locate the sole witness, Johnny Glitter. They break Kit out of the sanitarium and find Johnny at his home just as Gerrard’s thugs close in. Kit and Angel manage to save Johnny in a tense gunfight, a confrontation that also exposes a larger scheme brewing in Hollywood Boulevard. The plan is to intimidate and buy up neighborhoods, a ruthless scheme that Gerrard perpetuates, and the danger escalates as Gerrard’s men corner the group in a dark alley.
In the ensuing chaos, Kit fires at a car to create a diversion, and they manage to capture Gerrard’s son. The boy struggles to break free and threaten them with a gun, but a phone call arrives and Kit ends up shooting the boy to death. The caller proves to be Gerrard, who has kidnapped Solly’s baby, Little Buck. Gerrard offers a trade—Buck for his own son—but the attempt goes wrong when Gerrard realizes the ruse. A fierce shootout erupts again as Gerrard becomes desperate to keep the baby.
Kit eliminates one thug and Johnny Glitter—who shoots blindly, hits the other assailant, and also wounds himself—yet the danger continues to mount. Angel confronts Gerrard on the top floor, where the villain threatens to throw the baby over the edge. Angel surrenders, and Gerrard lowers the infant, but the baby crawls toward the edge. Solly, seeing the peril, climbs up to take a shot at Gerrard. Angel fights to reach the baby, but tragedy strikes when the infant falls. Kit immediate responds, catching the baby at the last moment.
With the danger averted for the moment, Angel and Solly descend with the baby safely wrapped in Kit’s jacket. They depart the scene just as the police arrive, leaving behind a cityscape shaken by violence but with the trio’s vigil intact and the kidnap plot resolved.
Avenging Angel Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Avenging Angel (1985) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Molly becomes Angel and vows vengeance
Molly Stewart, now off the streets and studying to become a lawyer, learns that Lt. Andrews has been murdered. Fueled by anger and a sense of justice, she returns to the streets as Angel to hunt his killer. She enlists trusted allies to help bring him to justice.
Angel reunites with old friends to pursue Johnny Glitter
Angel reconnects with Yoyo Charlie, Solly Mosler and Kit Carson to track down the sole witness, Johnny Glitter. They plan to use Johnny to locate Andrews's killer. The team begins coordinating their search.
Kit Carson is broken out of the sanitarium
The crew breaks Kit Carson out of the sanitarium where he has been kept. They mobilize him to join the pursuit and rejoin his old allies. Kit's return boosts their chances of getting to Johnny Glitter.
They locate Johnny Glitter at his home as killers close in
They find Johnny Glitter at his home just as the thugs who killed Andrews close in on him. The discovery of the witness raises the stakes and urgency of the mission. The group prepares to move quickly to protect Johnny.
Angel and Kit save Johnny in a shootout
Kit and Angel rescue Johnny in a street shootout, driving off the attackers. The skirmish demonstrates the danger closing in and solidifies their resolve to protect the witness. Johnny begins to understand the danger around him.
Angel uncovers Gerrard's plan to buy Hollywood Boulevard
Angel uncovers a city-wide scheme by Gerrard to buy up Hollywood Boulevard through intimidation and violence. The revelation expands the conflict beyond the murder and shows how power runs the street. The team now fights a broader criminal operation.
Gerrard's men corner the group in an alley
Gerrard's men trap Kit, Solly, Angel and Johnny in an alley, forcing a quick counterattack. The confrontation tests their unity and willingness to fight back. They must improvise to survive and keep Johnny safe.
Kit shoots the car, crashes it, and captures Gerrard's son
Kit fires at a car to create a distraction, causing it to crash and allowing them to seize Gerrard's son. The confrontation escalates as they gain leverage over the crime family. The pursuit shifts toward capturing the leading suspect's son.
Gerrard's son dies after a lethal mistake
Gerrard's son escapes the initial capture and threatens the group with a gun, but a phone rings and Kit shoots him to death. The death removes a dangerous obstacle but leaves a grim toll on everyone. The group realizes the cost of bringing Gerrard's operation down.
Gerrard kidnaps Little Buck and calls for a trade
The caller reveals he has kidnapped Solly's baby, Little Buck, and offers to trade Buck for his own son. The stakes rise as innocents become pawns in Gerrard's war. The team debates the risky exchange to save the child.
The trade attempt collapses into confrontation
They attempt a trade, but Gerrard discovers the ruse and a confrontation erupts. The plan to swap Buck for the other son collapses into open violence. The crew steels themselves for a final showdown.
Top-floor standoff and the baby's danger
A tense standoff on the top floor sees Gerrard threaten to throw the baby. Angel surrenders, but the infant inches toward the edge. Solly climbs up to confront Gerrard as Kit braces for action.
The baby falls; Kit catches him and they escape
During the chaos, the baby falls but Kit catches him in time. Angel and Solly descend with the child safely wrapped in Kit's jacket. They slip away just as the police arrive.
Escape with the baby as police arrive
The trio leaves the scene with the baby, fading into the night as law enforcement arrives to secure the area. The alliance holds, and the child is safe.
Avenging Angel Characters
Explore all characters from Avenging Angel (1985). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Molly Stewart / Angel (Betsy Russell)
Molly Stewart, also known as Angel, is a former street kid who is studying to become a lawyer. After Lt. Andrews, the detective who helped her leave prostitution, is murdered, she returns to the streets to avenge him. She recruits her old allies to track down the killer and protect the sole witness, Johnny Glitter. Her resolve to fight for justice puts her at odds with powerful criminals and tests her willingness to risk everything.
Kit Carson (Rory Calhoun)
Kit Carson is a tough, resourceful ally who stands by Molly in her quest for vengeance. They break Kit out of the sanitarium and rely on his quick actions to disrupt Gerrard’s plans. He drives key moments, including a dramatic car shot that crashes a pursuit and the capture of Gerrard’s son. Kit’s protective courage anchors the group through escalating danger.
Solly Mosler (Susan Tyrrell)
Solly Mosler is a loyal, street-smart ally who fights alongside Molly and the others. She has a personal stake in the case, partly due to the baby’s safety, and contributes to the plan to outmaneuver Gerrard. Solly’s experience and grit help the team navigate the city’s dangerous underworld. She remains a steady presence through the chaotic pursuit.
Johnny Glitter (Barry Pearl)
Johnny Glitter is the sole witness to Lt. Andrews’ murder, a crucial link in the pursuit of justice. The trio locates him at his home and protects him during a tense shootout. In the climactic moments, Johnny’s actions contribute to the chaotic resolution as the group fights Gerrard’s forces. His role underscores the fragility of truth in dangerous times.
Arthur Gerrard (Paul Lambert)
Arthur Gerrard is the mastermind behind the plan to control Hollywood Boulevard through intimidation and violence. He orchestrates the kidnapping of Solly’s baby and engages in a brutal showdown with Molly, Kit, and Solly. Gerrard’s arrogance and willingness to endanger innocents push the confrontation to a rooftop climax. His downfall exposes the peril of untreated greed.
Miles Gerrard (Frank Doubleday)
Miles Gerrard is Arthur Gerrard’s son, caught in his father’s criminal orbit. He is involved in the dangerous plots and meets a violent end during the confrontation. His character highlights the personal costs of the Gerrard family’s rise to power. The conflict with Miles adds another layer to the moral stakes of the story.
Lt. Hugh Andrews (Robert F. Lyons)
Lt. Hugh Andrews is the detective who helped Molly leave prostitution and later becomes her legal guardian. His murder sets off Molly’s crusade for justice. Andrews’ memory motivates the team’s pursuit and frames the stakes of the conflict. His legacy lingers as the group fights Gerrard’s gang.
Little Buck (Jessica O'Neil)
Little Buck is Solly’s baby who becomes the focus of Gerrard’s kidnapping plot. The rescue attempt drives a tense sequence on the rooftop and in the final confrontation. The baby’s safety serves as the emotional anchor for Molly, Kit, and Solly’s united effort.
Avenging Angel Settings
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Location
Hollywood Boulevard, Sanitarium, Rooftop of Gerrard's building, Los Angeles
The film unfolds along Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, a neon-lit urban setting where crime and real estate scheming collide. Key locations include a dim sanitarium, narrow alleys, and the rooftop of a high-rise where confrontations reach their peak. The city itself becomes a stage for vigilante justice, power plays, and tense chases through its gritty streets. The backdrop emphasizes a era and locale where danger lurks around glossy façades.
Avenging Angel Themes
Discover the main themes in Avenging Angel (1985). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Revenge
Molly’s quest to avenge Lt. Andrews drives the entire narrative and motivates every risky move. The pursuit of justice blurs with personal vendetta as she confronts those who murdered him. The story tests how far she will go to right a wrong, even when the cost is high. The climactic actions reveal the rough moral edge of vigilantism.
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Alliance
An unlikely trio forms—Angel, Kit, and Solly—whose loyalty is tested by danger and betrayal. They break Kit out of the sanitarium and unite with Johnny Glitter to pursue the killer and protect a vulnerable witness. Their teamwork enables daring rescues and coordinated strikes against Gerrard’s operation. The bond among them sustains hope amid escalating violence.
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Corruption
Gerrard’s scheme to buy and control Hollywood Boulevard exposes how power can bend a city to criminal will. The plot shows intimidation, violence, and manipulation as methods to seize influence over urban spaces. The confrontation on multiple fronts—street, building, and street-level alley fights—highlights a systemic rot feeding the crime world. The aftermath underscores the fragile line between justice and retaliation in a corrupt landscape.
Avenging Angel Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Avenging Angel (1985). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the neon‑lit sprawl of Los Angeles, a city where ambition collides with shadows, Molly Stewart stands at the brink of a new life. After years of surviving the street’s relentless grind, she has earned a place at UCLA law school and dreams of leaving her past behind. The campus corridors feel like a fragile sanctuary, offering a chance to rewrite a story written in desperation and grit.
Her world tilts when the man who once pulled her from that darkness—Lt. Hugh Andrews—is violently taken from the city she’s trying to join. The loss shatters the fragile boundary between her future and the streets she escaped, pulling her back into a realm she hoped to forget. Donning the moniker “Angel,” she steps out of the courtroom and into a nocturnal battleground, driven by a fierce need for justice that borders on vengeance.
Returning to the underbelly of the city, Molly reconnects with the familiar faces that shaped her survival. Old allies like Kit Carson and Solly Mosler represent the gritty camaraderie forged in hardship, each embodying a different facet of street‑wise loyalty. Their presence hints at a network of hidden motives and unspoken codes that govern the illicit corners of Los Angeles, where power is bought and secrets are guarded with steel‑cold resolve.
The tone of “Avenging Angel” is a gritty, street‑noir tableau that blends the stark realism of urban crime with the electrifying pulse of a revenge‑driven thriller. Stylized action, shadow‑laden alleys, and an undercurrent of moral ambiguity create a world where the line between law and lawlessness blurs, and Molly must navigate restless tensions to reclaim the future she once imagined.
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