“Angel Baby” on Screen

Mondo Trasho

John Waters’ first feature-length film. “Angel Baby” appears as part of Waters’ characteristic 1950s/60s pop-music collage in his debut underground feature. · source

After Hours

Martin Scorsese’s SoHo nightmare comedy. “Angel Baby” underscores the surreal night sequences as Paul Hackett’s odyssey unfolds. With Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Linda Fiorentino. · source

Date with an Angel

Tom McLoughlin’s romantic fantasy uses “Angel Baby” thematically against the film’s literal angel-falls-to-Earth premise. With Phoebe Cates and Emmanuelle Béart. · source

Colors

Dennis Hopper’s LAPD gang-unit drama uses “Angel Baby” as part of the East L.A. and South Central Chicano cultural soundscape. With Sean Penn, Robert Duvall, Maria Conchita Alonso. · source

She’s Out of Control

Stan Dragoti’s teen comedy uses “Angel Baby” as oldies-radio source music in the film’s late-’80s nostalgic framing. With Tony Danza, Catherine Hicks, Wallace Shawn. · source

A Brighter Summer Day

Edward Yang’s four-hour Taiwanese masterpiece on 1960 Taipei youth culture obsessed with American doo-wop. Actor Wong Chi-zan covers “Angel Baby” on camera in a band-rehearsal scene. · source

There Goes My Baby

Floyd Mutrux’s nostalgic 1965-set coming-of-age ensemble piece. Publishing administered by Windswept Pacific / Longitude Music (BMI). · source

My Family / Mi Familia

Gregory Nava’s multigenerational Mexican-American epic. Jeanette Jurado of Exposé portrays Rosie performing “Angel Baby” in its entirety at a 1958 wedding-reception scene. With Jimmy Smits, Edward James Olmos, Esai Morales, Jennifer Lopez. Nava called the song “the Hispanic national anthem.” · source

The Locusts

John Patrick Kelley’s 1960s-Kansas-set drama uses “Angel Baby” as period source music. With Vince Vaughn, Kate Capshaw, Jeremy Davies, Ashley Judd. Credit reads “Rosie ‘Rosalie’ Hamlin.” · source

Black & White

James Toback’s ensemble film. With Robert Downey Jr., Mike Tyson, Brooke Shields, Claudia Schiffer, Bijou Phillips. Credit reads “Rosie ‘Rosalie’ Hamlin.” · source

Kiss Toledo Goodbye

Lyle Conway’s direct-to-video comedy/crime feature. With Michael Rapaport, Christopher Walken, Nancy Allen. · source

American Soundtrack: Red, White & Rock!

Rosie Hamlin performs “Angel Baby” live with orchestra as part of the PBS My Music doo-wop pledge series. One of her last major nationally televised solo performances. · source

The Boys of 2nd Street Park

Showtime feature documentary about a group of friends from a Brighton Beach, Brooklyn playground reuniting decades later. “Angel Baby” used as period source music for early-1960s flashback context. · source

How I Met Your Mother — S4E16 “Sorry, Bro”

CBS sitcom episode directed by Pamela Fryman. Ted reconnects with his college ex-girlfriend Karen; “Angel Baby” is used as a sentimental needle-drop within the episode’s romantic-flashback structure. With Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris. · source

You Were Never Really Here

Lynne Ramsay’s psychological thriller, world-premiered at Cannes (Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix; Best Screenplay ex aequo for Ramsay). In the film’s most-discussed sequence, Joe raids a Manhattan brothel to rescue a trafficked teenager; Ramsay stages the violence through black-and-white security-camera POVs with “Angel Baby” playing diegetically over the carnage. Credit reads “Rosalie Hamlin.” · source

El Pollo Loco — “Te Amo” campaign

National TV commercial in English and Spanish promoting the “Loco Kickin’ Chicken” dipping sauces launch. Uses the Spanglish re-recording of “Angel Baby” by Rosie & the Originals over a warm, family-table dining sequence. Reportedly the song’s largest broadcast audience ever. · source

Dirty John — S1E3 “Remember It Was Me”

Bravo true-crime limited series, later licensed to Netflix internationally. Used in a chilling montage cross-cutting John Meehan’s wedding to Tonia with his later wedding to Debra Newell — the ironic innocence of “Angel Baby” against Meehan’s predatory behavior. With Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Julia Garner. · source

Mayans M.C. — S3E5 “Dark, Deep-Laid Plans”

FX (Disney/Hulu) crime drama, created by Kurt Sutter & Elgin James. Used as period-appropriate Chicano cultural soundscape during an episode that intercuts Angel’s failed marriage proposal to Adelita with EZ being attacked at a fairground. With J.D. Pardo, Edward James Olmos. · source

Nine Perfect Strangers — S1E4 “Brave New World”

Hulu limited series by David E. Kelley, based on the Liane Moriarty novel. Plays as Masha (Nicole Kidman) approaches the guests gathered around a bonfire at the Tranquillum House retreat — the song’s dreamy innocence underscoring the wellness retreat’s growing dread. With Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Bobby Cannavale. · source

American Born Chinese — S1E5 “Abracadabra”

Disney+ comedy-drama by Kelvin Yu, based on the Gene Luen Yang graphic novel. A diegetic karaoke sign in the Golden Temple restaurant scene reads “Up next: Angel Baby,” and the Rosie & the Originals recording plays over the episode’s end credits. With Ben Wang, Michelle Yeoh, Daniel Wu, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu. · source

Ginny & Georgia — S3E10

Netflix dramedy by Sarah Lampert. “Angel Baby” closes the season-three finale. With Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Felix Mallard. · source