On this day February 24 1981 the made for TV movie Fallen Angel aired on CBS. The drama tackled the difficult and controversial subject of child exploitation and was one of the earliest television films to bring awareness to the dangers of child predators.
The movie followed a young girl who becomes entangled with an older man under the guise of friendship only for her family and authorities to uncover his true intentions. The film’s unsettling and realistic portrayal of the issue led to widespread discussion and is often credited with helping raise awareness about child safety during the early 80s.
Fallen Angel was praised for its bold storytelling and sensitive handling of the subject matter. Like many socially conscious TV movies of the era it was designed to inform as well as entertain making a lasting impact on audiences who watched it.
Fun fact: Many made for TV movies in the 70s and 80s were created as cautionary tales addressing real world dangers such as addiction crime and domestic issues. Fallen Angel was one of the most impactful in this genre.
Trivia question: CBS aired many notable made for TV movies in the 1980s. Can you name another controversial television film from that decade that sparked national discussion?
The movie followed a young girl who becomes entangled with an older man under the guise of friendship only for her family and authorities to uncover his true intentions. The film’s unsettling and realistic portrayal of the issue led to widespread discussion and is often credited with helping raise awareness about child safety during the early 80s.
Fallen Angel was praised for its bold storytelling and sensitive handling of the subject matter. Like many socially conscious TV movies of the era it was designed to inform as well as entertain making a lasting impact on audiences who watched it.
Fun fact: Many made for TV movies in the 70s and 80s were created as cautionary tales addressing real world dangers such as addiction crime and domestic issues. Fallen Angel was one of the most impactful in this genre.
Trivia question: CBS aired many notable made for TV movies in the 1980s. Can you name another controversial television film from that decade that sparked national discussion?
