Tonight's Movie: Angel and the Badman (2026)

As longtime readers may be aware, the original version of ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (1947) is not just my favorite John Wayne film, it's high on my list of all-time favorite movies.Wayne played gunslinger Quirt Evans, reformed by the love of a Quaker girl, Penny Worth (Gail Russell). Wayne's longtime friend Bruce Cabot played the villain, Laredo Stevens, with Harry Carey Sr. as Marshal McClintock and Lee Dixon as Quirt's friend Randy.In 2009 a TV remake aired on the Hallmark Channel which costarred Lou Diamond Phillips and Luke Perry in the lead roles of Quirt and Laredo; John Wayne's grandson Brendan Wayne (THE MANDALORIAN) played Randy. I've yet to see this version.I was surprised when I recently learned of a new theatrical remake of ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (2026) with a cast including Zachary Levi (SHE LOVES ME, SHAZAM) as Quirt and Tommy Lee Jones as Marshal McClintock.My initial impulse was to simply ignore the new film, but eventually curiosity got the better of me, especially as I…