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:

Nick: My children, my children, you'd be lost without me.

Movie Connections:

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

Bemused and funny film with comedy and romance

Picture concerns about a gangster called Eddie Kagle(Paul Muni) who is based his way of living on what Omar Khayyan once said : ¨Live fully while you may and reckon not the cost¨. He leaves the State Penitentiary imprisoned accused of murderous and makes a covenant with the devil(Claude Rains) and returns to earth for vengeance as an important judge .He become incarnate in the kind judge and the problems emerge when is romanced with his girlfriend(Anne Baxter) falling in love with her,but the good heart mobster spoil the relationship.

It's a romantic movie with a supernatural love story.Enjoyable romance tale where trio protagonist are sensational.Bemusing fantasy with excellent interpretation Paul Muni(Scarface) in comic character while he usually played historic or dramatic roles.Claude Rains(Casablanca) as ironic and obstinate Devil is magnificent although in ¨Here comes Mr. Jordan¨ he played an Angel. Anne Baxter is enticing and attractive. Fine production design in the Inferno's recreation. The motion picture is well directed by Archie Mayo (Bordertown,Petrified forest,Black legion) in his last film, he's a specialist on noir cinema who worked with almost all Warner Brothers biggest stars(Paul Muni,James Cagney,Raft,Bogart) though directed also some comedy as this film and with Marx Brothers,¨one night in Casablanca¨ which had more pace and spirit that some of their later work. Rating : Entertained and well worth watching.