In his article for the 25 Mar 1962 LAT, producer Walt Disney announced that the film, originally titled Born to Sing, would be a two-hour television special. Six months later, the 26 Sep 1962 LAT reported that the film, re-titled Almost Angels, would be released the following month on a double bill with the reissued animated feature, Lady and the Tramp (1955, see entry). Both pictures opened 10 Oct 1962 in Los Angeles, CA. According to the 31 Oct 1962 NYT, Almost Angels opened that day in New York City with the accompanying feature, The Trunk (1961, see entry). The review in the 29 Aug 1962 DV described the plot as “unbearably saccharine,” and noted that location photography took place “in and around” Vienna, Austria. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra was credited with performing the score. Public response was generally positive, evident in the 24 Oct 1962 Var, which reported box office receipts in the tens of thousands of dollars in several major cities.
       The picture was awarded four stars by the Southern California Motion Picture Council, as reported in the 25 Sep 1962 DV. On 25 Apr 1963 LAT announced that Austrian Ambassador Wilfried Platzer was presenting a citation to Walt Disney the following day at the World Affairs Council luncheon. Disney was being honored for his “contribution to children,” particularly his two recent productions, Miracle of the White Stallions (1963, see entry) and Almost Angels, both of which celebrated two venerable Austrian institutions.
       Box office reports in the 1 Aug 1962 Var revealed that the picture was released in England as Born to Sing. The 12 Sep 1962 LAT noted that cast members Fritz Eckhardt, Bruni Löbel, and Hans Holt were renowned Austrian playwrights.