Angel on My Shoulder (1946)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

Harry Segall (story)
Harry Segall (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 September 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

The strange story of Eddie Kagle... the man they couldn't keep down!

Plot:

The Devil arranges for a deceased gangster to return to Earth as a well-respected judge to make up for his previous life.

Plot Keywords:

Judge | Gangster | Devil | Hell | Love

Cast

Paul Muni	...	Eddie Kagle / Judge Frederick Parker
Anne Baxter	...	Barbara Foster
Claude Rains	...	Nick
Onslow Stevens	...	Dr. Matt Higgins
George Cleveland	...	Albert
Erskine Sanford	...	Minister
Marion Martin	...	Mrs. Bentley
Hardie Albright	...	Smiley Williams
James Flavin	...	Bellamy
Jimmie Dundee	...	Gangster (as James Dundee)

Runtime:

100 min | Canada:101 min (Ontario) | USA:120 min (TCM Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | USA:Approved (PCA #11154, General Audience) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) | UK:A (original rating)

Company:

Charles R. Rogers Productions

Trivia:

The film's international remake rights are owned by producer Todd Baker.

Quotes:

Barbara Foster: All I know is wherever you're going, I want to go too.
Eddie Kagle: You don't belong where I'm going honey.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Scream Greats, Vol. 2: Satanism and Witchcraft (1986)

An All-Time Classic

It's the film everyone remembers from those Saturday afternoon TV film matinees. The producer, Charles R. Rogers, had a pretty bleak record when it came to producing films on his own (he was once a V.P. at Universal before going solo). But with "Angel" he knocked it out of the park. He inserted age-old movie favorties and combined them into one story. Gangsters, fights, comedy, drama, fantasy... what's not to love?

"Angel on My Shoulder" (1946) offers up classic performances by such legendary stars as Paul Muni, Anne Baxter, and Claude Rains. All cast to type, they give performances that are timeless. When you think of any of these stars, think of them in this film and it will give you a pretty good idea as to what each was known for.

Although this film was put together during the tail end of World War II and was designed as escapist fun, it holds up today. In fact, it begs for a good re-make. One was done for TV back in 1980, but fell flat. So bad was that version, that they should pay you to watch it. Yet if someone was to do it correctly today, they would have a real gem on their hands.

If you haven't seen the original 1946 version, catch it on TV. It belongs in everybody's movie-watching repertoire.