lugonian ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER (United Artists, 1946), directed by Archie Mayo, stars Paul Muni in one of his finer film efforts in his latter movie career. An interesting yet unusual project for the Academy Award winning actor best known for solid dramatic roles and historic figures where his facial make-up in thirties screen performances of Louis Pasteur, Emile Zola and Benito Juarez at Warner Brothers allowed him to appear in almost unrecognizable manner, Muni, who wouldn't allow himself to fall victim in type-casting, assumes his first gangster role since SCARFACE (United Artists, 1932). Rather than playing an Italian accented gang leader who becomes the "shame of a nation," this time Muni does one better, that of a tough-talking American mug who never got passed the third grade who learns a moral lesson during his second chance in life.Opening title: "This story is about Eddie Kagle, who based his way of living on what Omar Khayyam once said: 'Live fully while you may and reckon not the cost.'" After serving a four year prison term, Eddie Kagle (Paul Muni), gangster, walks out freely into the world where he's greeted by his boyhood pal and partner, "Smiley" Williams (Hardie Albright). As Eddie's being taken for a ride, he asks Smiley for his gun. Four shots are fired. The spirit of Eddie Kagle ends up in the pits of hell, surrounded by heat, lava, fire, darkness and the smell of "rotten eggs." Along the way he comes across other lost souls bound to eternal condemnation. Because Eddie happens to be the spitting image of a Judge Frederick Parker, an honest politician running for governor, Nick (Claude Rains), the devil, wanting to take more souls with him into hell, allows Kagle temporary freedom outside Hades to avenge his killer in exchange for he assuming the body of Judge Parker to dishonor his good name. Upon his return to Earth, Kagle, assuming Parker's identity after collapsing in the courtroom. While following Nick's plan, Eddie unwittingly fails in his assignment through unforeseen circumstances. Having found love with Barbara Foster (Anne Baxter), the judge's secretary and fiancée, the devil uses every possible motive to tempt Eddie into sin, even to a point of having him come face to face with Smiley. With an "angel on his shoulder," Eddie comes up with some plans of his own.A fantasy-comedy with warmth and humor, the original story, credited to Harry Segall, very much borrows from his own premise of the motion picture classic, HERE COMES MR. JORDAN (Columbia, 1941), starring Robert Montgomery and Claude Rains, only in reverse. Changing the emphasis from Heaven to Hell and Claude Rains assuming similar duties from guardian angel to guardian demon, with parallel ideas in different directions, the film overall is quite entertaining. More talk than action, with Muni taking full control of his actions, showing two sides of his nature, it is Rains who holds his own in fine support as he did in HERE COMES MR. JORDAN. Although Anne Baxter seems too youthful to be playing Muni's love interest to his other character, her performance with uplift forties hairstyle and mature mannerisms overcomes such obstacles. Other members of the cast include: Onslow Stevens (Doctor Max Higgins, Parker's psychiatrist); George Cleveland (Albert, Parker's servant); James Flavin, Jonathan Hale, Ben Weldon and Addison Richards, among others.By the time the made-for-television remake of ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER starring Peter Strauss, Richard Kiley and Barbara Hershey was released in 1980, the 1946 original, which had fallen into public domain, was soon revived on many public television and local TV stations after two decades away from the TV markets. Availability onto video cassette from numerous distributors and DVD followed, with latter cable television broadcasts on American Movie Classics (1991) and Turner Classic Movies (2003 onward).While the nearly forgotten Paul Muni name rests on his powerful performance in I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (Warner Brothers, 1932), any movie that has Muni perform a tender love scene, acting drunk and teaming up with the devil, can't be all bad. (*** halos)

Martin Bradley Archie Mayo's curio "Angel on my Shoulder" is virtually unknown despite a cast headed by Paul Muni, Claude Rains and Anne Baxter. It's a fantasy along the same lines as "Here Comes Mr Jordan" and "It's a Wonderful Life". It came out in the same year as "It's a Wonderful Life" which may be one reason it's gotten lost in that movie's grander shadow or perhaps it's simply because it's not really that good. Muni seems totally lost in the role of a dead gangster fuelling the fires of Hell before he's brought back to inhabit the body of a 'good' judge the Devil is trying to get his hands on, (watching this you would never think Muni was once considered a great actor). Rains, on the other hand, looks like he's enjoying this nonsense though it's hardly what you would call acting; more like smirking as he goes through the motions. The ridiculous plot has Muni and Rains returning from Hell so that Rains' Devil can get the righteous judge down below, (and give Muni's gangster the chance to get revenge on the guy who plugged him). Of course, considering he's the Devil, Rains seems singularly unprepared for Anne Baxter's sweetness-and-light fiancée whose goodness messes up his plans somewhat. Naturally, it's a comedy and it's not unamusing in a daft kind of way but it's hardly memorable. Par for the Archie Mayo course, in fact.

wes-connors Let out of jail, gangster Paul Mini (as Eddie Kagle) is shot dead by the "double crossing rat" who picks him up at the prison. Uncomfortable in Hell, Mr. Muni hooks up with wicked Claude Rains (as "Nick"), who seems to know his way around the underworld. Not guessing Mr. Rains is the devil in disguise, Muni walks with Rains through fire, and returns to observe the Living World. There, Rains arranges a body-switch with look-alike Judge Frederick Parker (also played by Muni). Muni is promised revenge on the crook who crossed him; and, Rains is unhappy with the Judge, who hasn't been sending many souls to Hell.So, criminal Muni embodies good Muni...Archie Mayo's "Angel on My Shoulder" isn't as well-remembered, or as original, as other films visiting the same territory; but, watching Muni and Rains makes up most of the difference. This version is played as a sometimes comic drama, and the stars are devilishly fun to watch. Also notable is Anne Baxter (as Barbara Foster), who plays the pretty fiancée Muni amusingly gropes with approval, then falls in love with. She may be his salvation. Perfectly cast Hardie Albright (as Smiley Williams) is no slouch; in once of the film's best scenes, he holds his own with Muni and Rains in the room. Others haven't as much to do, but they do it well.******* Angel on My Shoulder (9/20/46) Archie Mayo ~ Paul Muni, Claude Rains, Anne Baxter, Hardie Albright

MartinHafer Paul Muni plays a gangster who is murdered towards the very beginning of the story and is sent to Hell. This gangster seems an awful lot like his character from the movie SCARFACE (1932) and although Muni's acting is far from subtle, it is very entertaining. The Devil is also entertained by how awful the man is--especially since this evil deceased gangster looks just like a nice judge who he wants to discredit. Lucifer lets Muni out of Hell and gives him the judges body--and Muni being such a dumb mug never realizes that it's the Devil helping him or that he was even in Hell!! This seems like a big stretch, but considering the movie IS a fantasy, it can be forgiven. This plan all backfires, though, when Muni unintentionally does good as the judge and the Devil is less than amused.The acting by Muni, as I said before, is pretty broad. However, Claude Rains is wonderful as a much more subtle Devil--one of the better ones Hollywood created--probably second to Laird Crager's version in HEAVEN CAN WAIT. All in all, this movie is just a lot of fun and has quite a few laughs as well. While not great theology, it's immensely entertaining.