Angel City

Angel City is a 1980 American television film directed by Steve Carver and Philip Leacock.

It was originally known as Angel’s Gates and was based on the novel Angel City by Patrick Smith. Filming took place in June 1980 at the migrant camp in Homestead Florida where Smith had worked himself. Two weeks into filming original director Steve Carver was replaced by Philip Leacock after a dispute between Carver and star Ralph Waites (Waites had worked with Leacock on The Waltons).

Director Steve Carver later claimed “I had a problem with actor Ralph Waite who came on the set drunk. I told the producers to remove him or I would leave. They said they couldn’t remove him, so I left. Then they blackballed me.” He said this damaged his career.