The Angel Levine (1970)

Morris Mishkin is a elderly religious Jew in New York. His wife Fanny is very ill. He's a tailor, but he can't work because his back has given out. He doesn't even have enough money for ... See full summary »

Director:

Ján Kadár

Writers:

Bill Gunn, Bernard Malamud (story),

Stars:

Zero Mostel, Harry Belafonte, Ida Kaminska

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Zero Mostel	...	Morris Mishkin
Harry Belafonte	...	Alexander Levine
Ida Kaminska	...	Fanny Mishkin
Milo O'Shea	...	Dr. Arnold Berg
Gloria Foster	...	Sally
Barbara Ann Teer	...	Welfare Lady
Eli Wallach	...	Delicatessen Clerk
Anne Jackson	...	Customer in Delicatessen
Stephen Strimpell	...	Drugstore clerk
Sam Raskyn	...	Druggist
Kathy Shawn	...	Woman in drugstore
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anna Stuart

Storyline

Morris Mishkin is a elderly religious Jew in New York. His wife Fanny is very ill. He's a tailor, but he can't work because his back has given out. He doesn't even have enough money for Fanny's medicine. Finally, a black fellow appears from nowhere in the Mishkin kitchen. He says he's an angel from God, sent to help Mishkin. The black angel is even Jewish, named Alex Levine? But will Morris believe in the angel? And can the angel perform the miracle that he promises?

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Plot Keywords:

angel | jewish | new york city

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Taglines:

If he's an angel, imagine what God is like.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual references

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ein Engel names Levin

Filming Locations:

Filmways Studios - 246 East 127th Street, East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belafonte Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script is based on a short story by Bernard Malamud, "Angel Levine," which was first published in the December 1955 issue of Commentary. In the original story, Mishkin's name was Manischewitz, and his wife's first name was Leah. The story also had a much more upbeat ending.

User Reviews

Uneven fable(?)

Any film starring Zero Mostel is worth watching, and The Angel Levine is no exception. Sadly the film has aged rather poorly, with Harry Belafonte's hipster jive clearly belonging in the New York City of 30 years ago. Whether the film should be viewed literally, as a tale of personal redemption and healing, or as the fable most reviewers assume it to be, is uncertain. There's enough good acting here--especially from Mostel and Ida Kaminska as his dying wife--to recommend this strange little art piece.