More holes than swiss tofu, but simply charming. A rare two-parter. They protect a high-ranking government official competing in a skiing pro-am in Aspen, played by Dennis Cole (in his third ANGEL stint, and now Mr. Jaclyn Smith offstage). He and Kelly spark romantically (surprise), but it's very nice. For some distracting reason, he bought his snowsuit at the Darth Vader surplus store. The government security head brings the Angels in because their faces are unknown...then proceeds to de-brief them in the lodge lobby. There are delightful, unexpected visuals, such as mountain fireflies, ski dancing, and ski mimes. No, really. There's an hours-long chase scene that's all over the place and makes NO sense whatsoever, but...it's so much fun you can't say no. The charm is multiplied by the endless snowmobile, ski, and ski lift shots with obviously fake backgrounds imposed. If you ever wondered what Cesare Danova followed up ANIMAL HOUSE (Mayor Carmine DiPasto) with, wonder no more. He's a, whattaycallit, baddie. This one has a slightly surreal scene as hostage Sabrina transforms a militant idealist into an, um, nihilist. Kris has a smaller part than the others, yet at the end, she gives the most touching, realistic line reading she ever gave as an Angel, when she is gently kissed, and says "Well, hello".
4 Reviews
Snow Angels
adamcshelby26 August 2021
Despite a terrific guest cast led by Christopher George as Chadway, Cesar Danova as Franco Cirella, and three-time Charlie's Angels guest star and husband of Jaclyn Smith, Dennis Cole, playing against type as Carl Hansworth, this plot let me feeling cold. It's a two-part episode shot on location in Vail Colorado.
The location scenes are fantastic, the village with the hotels and main street-feel, and of course the mountain slopes where the skiing was filmed. All that worked.
The plot, if I'm honest, was a bore-fest. There were several ski chase scenes that quite honestly all looked the same and went on for too long. When they're intercut with the rear projection studio stuff, the beautiful effect of being out on location is instantly ruined. Also I have no idea why this was a two episode arc. It worked for Angels in Paradise, the Hawaii episode, but here it felt like a drag.
That said it wasn't all bad by any stretch. The chemistry between Dennis Cole and Jaclyn Smith is apparent, and there's a lovely scene filmed at night on a ski slope with what appears to be hundreds of skiers carrying torches as they ski down the mountain as Dennis Cole and Jaclyn Smith eat dinner in the foreground.
The Christopher George/Cheryl Ladd pairing seemed a little forced to me. It's amusing to suggest that Kris Munroe would suddenly develop feelings for a government agent she barely knows just because they're working a case together. That was one of the worst 70s tropes, that a woman would automatically be attracted to the man she worked with, just because.
But that was nowhere near as bad as the Bosley romance angle, which as usual is just cringe-inducing. He's paired with the lovely age appropriate actress Kathleen Nolan as Elizabeth James. Perhaps it's just me but every time Bosley is put forth as a romantic lead he falls off his skis.
Sabrina was mostly left to her own devices, which often seemed the case in season 3. It's as if she had CA already in her rear view mirror.
I won't exlain the plot too much, only that it's patently ridiculous, with foreign rabble rousers from Italy killing a gov agent for some Bond-plot reason. I did not care about any of that. Cesar Danova was always good at playing rakish villains, but his part was grossly underwritten. So this one gets marks for effort, with the location, ski stunts, and camera work shining, but the plot never pulled me in.
The location scenes are fantastic, the village with the hotels and main street-feel, and of course the mountain slopes where the skiing was filmed. All that worked.
The plot, if I'm honest, was a bore-fest. There were several ski chase scenes that quite honestly all looked the same and went on for too long. When they're intercut with the rear projection studio stuff, the beautiful effect of being out on location is instantly ruined. Also I have no idea why this was a two episode arc. It worked for Angels in Paradise, the Hawaii episode, but here it felt like a drag.
That said it wasn't all bad by any stretch. The chemistry between Dennis Cole and Jaclyn Smith is apparent, and there's a lovely scene filmed at night on a ski slope with what appears to be hundreds of skiers carrying torches as they ski down the mountain as Dennis Cole and Jaclyn Smith eat dinner in the foreground.
The Christopher George/Cheryl Ladd pairing seemed a little forced to me. It's amusing to suggest that Kris Munroe would suddenly develop feelings for a government agent she barely knows just because they're working a case together. That was one of the worst 70s tropes, that a woman would automatically be attracted to the man she worked with, just because.
But that was nowhere near as bad as the Bosley romance angle, which as usual is just cringe-inducing. He's paired with the lovely age appropriate actress Kathleen Nolan as Elizabeth James. Perhaps it's just me but every time Bosley is put forth as a romantic lead he falls off his skis.
Sabrina was mostly left to her own devices, which often seemed the case in season 3. It's as if she had CA already in her rear view mirror.
I won't exlain the plot too much, only that it's patently ridiculous, with foreign rabble rousers from Italy killing a gov agent for some Bond-plot reason. I did not care about any of that. Cesar Danova was always good at playing rakish villains, but his part was grossly underwritten. So this one gets marks for effort, with the location, ski stunts, and camera work shining, but the plot never pulled me in.
Hit the slopes
Trainfan626 January 2007
It's off to Vail in this 2 part episode aired in 1979. This installment features a nice town, beautiful winter scenery, a nice orchestral score, and excellent acting by some leading actors. Finally, the hotel used is the famous Lodge at Vail, one of America's finest ski resorts. The plot is believable and is developed in a more realistic fashion, as is done in other 2 part episodes (i.e. Angels in Vegas). The show makes you want to go ski at Vail! Jaclyn Smith was married to Dennis Cole at the time this was made. Conveniently, they were close friends in the episode, and put on a good performance. Lots of action on the hill, it's Charlie's Angels at its finest.
Angels on Location
riku-281605 March 2020
This is one of my favourite episodes so far (I am working my way through the whole five series). The story doesn't have any huge plot holes (unlike Kris losing her memory and forgetting her name even though she has her handbag and wallet with her and no doubt driving licence!!). What makes the episode stand out is the large amount of location work with the principal actors definitely on location in Vail and even doing some skiing and snowmobile driving.
Sure the ski chases are obviously doubled and close ups are done with rear projection but there are plenty of medium shots of the actors on the real ski lift for example (even though close ups on the lift are obvious rear projection).
The production team certainly pushed the boat out with regards to set pieces filmed presumably just for this episode (the skiers coming down the mountain with torches for example). There is none of the jarring differences in stock footage of horse races/football matches and then tight shots of the actors and a few extras (the stadium scenes in pom pom angels comes to mind where the budget seemed to run into about a dozen extras to make up the "crowd" at the football stadium - and even there they seemed to have built a few rows of seats in the studio rather than go on location to the stadium itself).
All in all a great episode and one of the few that i'd want to watch again soon.
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