Tarnished Angel (1938) in Color — Starring Sally Eilers & Lee Bowman

Tarnished Angel (1938) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the gripping pre-war drama Tarnished Angel (1938) Colorized, directed by Leslie Goodwins, starring Sally Eilers, Lee Bowman, and a young Ann Miller in a daring tale of reinvention and deception — a showgirl with a dubious reputation who transforms herself into a phony evangelist offering miraculous “cures” to the sick and disabled — now available for purchase in stunning color for just €15.00. This professionally colorized version brings the film’s Depression-era atmosphere, dramatic performances, and moral complexities to vivid new life. Own this DRM-free digital download and enjoy this compelling classic movie from RKO Radio Pictures, in vibrant colour.

Plot Summary

Carol Vinson (Sally Eilers) is a nightclub showgirl whose life takes a dangerous turn when she becomes entangled with the wrong crowd. Fleeing from the law after a brush with the police, Carol needs to vanish — and fast. Desperate and resourceful, she hatches an audacious scheme: she will reinvent herself as a faith healer and evangelist, preying on the hopes of the sick and suffering.

With the help of Eddie Fox (Paul Guilfoyle), a shady promoter, and the flashy Dandy Bennett (Vinton Hayworth), Carol builds a convincing act. She dons modest clothing, adopts a pious manner, and begins holding revival meetings where she claims to channel divine healing powers. The desperate crowds flock to her, bringing their ailing loved ones in hopes of a miracle cure. Carol’s conscience nags at her, but the money is too good and the alternative — prison — is too terrible.

Everything changes when Paul Montgomery (Lee Bowman), a sincere and idealistic young doctor, enters Carol’s life. Paul is working to help the very people Carol is exploiting, and his genuine compassion begins to crack her hardened exterior. Meanwhile, Vi McMaster (Ann Miller), Carol’s young and loyal friend from her showgirl days, provides both comic relief and a moral compass.

As Carol falls in love with Paul, she faces an impossible choice: continue the lucrative deception or confess the truth and risk losing everything — including the man she loves. When a wealthy socialite, Mrs. Harry Stockton (Alma Kruger), becomes both her biggest patron and her greatest threat, Carol’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Detective Sergeant Cramer (Jonathan Hale) is closing in, and Carol must decide who she truly wants to be.

Cast & Crew

Director: Leslie Goodwins

Screenplay: Jo Pagano, from a story by Saul Elkins

Producer: B. P. Fineman

Cinematography: Nicholas Musuraca

Music: Frank Tours

Stars: Sally Eilers as Carol Vinson, Lee Bowman as Paul Montgomery, Ann Miller as Violet “Vi” McMaster, Alma Kruger as Mrs. Harry Stockton, Paul Guilfoyle as Edward “Eddie” Fox, Jonathan Hale as Detective Sgt. Cramer, Vinton Hayworth as Dan “Dandy” Bennett, Cecil Kellaway as Reginald “Reggie” Roland

Sally Eilers, a versatile leading lady of 1930s Hollywood, delivers a nuanced performance as a woman caught between survival and morality. Lee Bowman brings understated charm as the idealistic doctor who sees through Carol’s façade. Ann Miller, just seventeen years old and already a sensation, adds youthful energy and her trademark vivacity. The great Nicholas Musuraca, who would later photograph the landmark noir films Cat People and Out of the Past, provides atmospheric cinematography.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The colorization of Tarnished Angel magnificently enhances its rich visual contrasts — the glittering nightclubs versus the humble revival tents, the showgirl’s sequined costumes versus the evangelist’s modest attire, and the warm tones of Depression-era America all benefit enormously from the addition of colour. This is a film about transformation and disguise, and colorization makes those visual contrasts resonate in ways the original black and white photography could only suggest. The era-accurate frame-by-frame colorization process uses advanced digital techniques to bring the film’s dramatic world to life. Buy Tarnished Angel (1938) Colorized today for €15.00 and own this rare RKO classic in a DRM-free format.

Historical Significance

Tarnished Angel captures a fascinating chapter of Depression-era America, when desperate times drove both perpetrators and victims of religious fraud. The film’s unflinching portrayal of a con artist exploiting the faithful was daring for its time, anticipating later treatments of the same subject such as Elmer Gantry (1960). The film also serves as an early showcase for Ann Miller, who would go on to become one of Hollywood’s most celebrated dancer-actresses in musicals like Easter Parade and On the Town. Cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca’s moody visual style foreshadowed his groundbreaking work in the film noir genre. The restored colorized version preserves this compelling drama of reinvention, redemption, and the desperate choices people make when cornered.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, professional AI-assisted colorization
• Audio: English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 68 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is Ann Miller in this film?
A: Yes! Ann Miller appears as Violet “Vi” McMaster. She was only seventeen when this film was made, already displaying the talent and charisma that would make her a major Hollywood star in musicals of the 1940s and 1950s.

Q: What is this film about?
A: Tarnished Angel tells the story of a nightclub showgirl who flees from the police and reinvents herself as a phony evangelist, offering fake cures to sick and disabled people. Her world is upended when she falls for an idealistic young doctor and must choose between her con and her conscience.

Q: Who produced this film?
A: Tarnished Angel was produced by RKO Radio Pictures, one of the “Big Five” Hollywood studios of the Golden Age. RKO was also the studio that produced King Kong, Citizen Kane, and the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musicals.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4/MKV file in HD 720p resolution. This colorized version lets you watch on any modern device or media player.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
A: Yes, your purchase is completely DRM-free. You own the file outright and can watch it on any device without restrictions or recurring fees.

Q: How quickly will I receive the download?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment is confirmed. You can begin watching Tarnished Angel (1938) Colorized within minutes of your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• We Have Our Moments (1937)
• Stage Door (1937)
• Strike Me Pink (1936)
• Remember Last Night? (1935)
• The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938)