Angel on My Shoulder (film)

Infobox Film
name = Angel on My Shoulder


image_size = 250px
caption =
director = Archie Mayo
producer =
writer = Harry Segall
Roland Kibbee
narrator =
starring = Paul Muni
Claude Rains
Anne Baxter
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = United Artists
released = 1946
runtime =
country = flagicon|USA USA
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0038300

"Angel on My Shoulder" is a 1946 American fantasy film about a deal between the Devil and a dead man. It was directed by Archie Mayo, written by Harry Segall and Roland Kibbee, and released by United Artists. The film was Mayo's last before his retirement. It starred Paul Muni, Claude Rains and Anne Baxter.

Plot

Gangster Eddie Kagle (Paul Muni) is killed by his partner and trusted friend since childhood, Smiley Williams (Hardie Albright). Kagle ends up in Hell, where "Nick" (Claude Rains) offers him an opportunity for revenge in exchange for help with a problem. He looks exactly like Judge Frederick Parker, an upright man who is entirely too honest and liable to cause more trouble in future, since he is running for governor of his state. Kagle readily agrees.

Nick arranges to have Kagle take over Parker's body. Then, funny things start happening. Though Kagle pursues his goal with evil intent (though often at cross purposes with the Devil), everything he does to smear the judge's reputation somehow ends up making Parker look better. Along the way, Kagle becomes acquainted with Barbara Foster (Anne Baxter), the judge's fiancée. He falls in love with her himself, causing him to question his whole outlook on life. Finally, he rebels.

Exasperated and defeated, Nick takes Kagle back to Hell, leaving Judge Parker much better off than before. Nick threatens to make the reformed man's existence even more painful than usual, but Kagle blackmails his would-be tormentor; in return for not talking about how Nick messed up so badly, Kagle gets himself made a trustee.

Cast

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

Copyright status

The film is now in the public domain in the United States. Outside of the U.S., the film's rights status varies from country to country, with the worldwide remake rights retained by producer Todd Baker. [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117912248.html?categoryId=13&cs=1 'Angel' back on the table - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038300/ "Angel on My Shoulder" at IMDB]