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Daniel M. Angel

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MajorDaniel Morris Angel(14 May 1911 – 13 December 1999) was a leading Britishfilm producerwho was responsible for several notable British films during the 1950s, such asAnother Man's Poison(1952),The Sea Shall Not Have Them(1954),Reach for the Sky(1956), andCarve Her Name with Pride(1958).[1]

One obituary called him "An irascible man with strong opinions and a somewhat draconian manner, Angel was utterly dedicated to the medium of film."[2]

He was the subject ofThis Is Your Lifein 1958 when he was surprised byEamonn Andrewsat the BBC Television Theatre.

Biography

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Angel was educated at University College School, London. He came from a family who ran a theatrical costume business, Angel's.

Angel served in Burma during World War Two, where he was a major. On waking up after an operation for appendicitis, he was told that he had contractedpolioand would never walk again. He spent two years in base hospital then was shipped to England, where he rejoined the family firm, which had become Angel's and Berman's. He learned how to move around in a wheelchair then taught himself to walk using a cane. He would walk on crutches until 1971 when he became confined to a wheelchair.[1]

In 1945 he married Betty Van Damm, the daughter ofVivian Van Damm,theGeneral Managerof theWindmill Theatrein London.[3]

In 1946 he used his army pension to buy a film camera. He wrote toKing George VIand asked permission to film the Royal stables. This resulted in a documentary,All the King's Horseswhich made a profit of £5,000. He used this to make a series of documentaries, includingAll the King's MenandAll the King's Music,making a profit of £30,000. He moved into features withMurder at the Windmill(1949).[1]

In 1960, Angel, along withJohn Woolfbecame one of the first film producers to sell his work to television. This enraged the industry and for several years his films were boycotted by distributors and cinemas.[2][4]

His last feature film wasThe Romantic Englishwoman(1975).[5]

In 1980 Angel successfully sued actorKenneth Morefor libel over comments made in More's second autobiography.[6]

Angel retired and lived in America, Switzerland, France and, in his latter years, once more in London. His wife died two days after him. They were survived by their two daughters, both of whom are theatrical agents.[2]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^abc"PRODUCER'S SUCCESS STORY".The Sun.No. 13760. Sydney. 18 March 1954. p. 46 (LATE FINAL EXTRA).Retrieved27 September2017– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^abcDanny Angel: [1F Edition] The Times; London (UK) [London (UK)]17 Dec 1999: 27.
  3. ^"Who is Betty van Damm?".Omnilexica.Retrieved18 January2018.
  4. ^REPORTS ON BRITAIN'S VARIED MOVIE FRONTS: Industry Shaken by Television Deal -- Stars on the Ascendant -- Awards By STEPHEN WATTS. New York Times 24 Jan 1960: X7.
  5. ^News of the Screen: Glenda Jackson To Star With Caine Weiler, A H. New York Times 2 June 1974: 61.
  6. ^"Why I'm living on Love." The Australian Women's Weekly (via National Library of Australia), 7 October 1981, p. 26. Retrieved: 6 May 2012.
  7. ^All the King's Men Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 15, Iss. 169, (Jan 1, 1948): 14.

Notes

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