MovieChat Forums > Angel on My Shoulder (1946) Discussion > A fine film

A fine film

posted 17 years ago by twm-2
11 replies | jump to latest

I saw this for the first time a few days ago and found it very entertaining. In fact, if they had only changed the ending a bit, this film would come close to generating the same feel-good-glow that It's a Wonderful Life generates.

[SPOILERS]The film traces the afterlife of a cruel mobster (Muni) who is brought back by Satan himself to earth in order to take possession of a crusading judge (who happens to look exactly like the mobster) who has been a real obstacle to some of Satan's efforts. The idea is for Muni to wreck havoc with the judge's reputation by simply being himself. Unfortunately for the Devil, Muni gradually reforms as he meets many of the judge's friends, especially the fiancée, played by Anne Baxter. He falls in love and the transforming power of this love enables him to foil the Devil's plans. The ending, however, has him returning to Hell with Satan--though because he outsmarted him, Muni is able to blackmail the dark lord into making him a "trustee." I think what should have happened, is that when Satan starts to take Muni back to Hell, an angel should have intervened and brought Muni to heaven. Properly staged, this would have been a much more upbeat ending and probably would have propelled this film to "classic" status.

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Fighting for Truth, Justice, and making it the American way.

[–] rooprect 17 years ago

You're right that the movie didn't exactly have a feel-good ending. But actually that's what made me like it even more. It was a happy movie with a cynical twist, a lot like Casablanca (which, now that I think about it, has a very similar vibe at the end... and it's not just because of the incredible Claude Raines).

Also, we learn that the "angel on your shoulder" is actually yourself. It's the goodness within every living being, and that's all you need to get yourself out of a jam. If an actual angel had appeared & saved him, then it would contradict that message completely.

I'm sure the movie suffered at the box office because of its somewhat bleak ending (especially back in those postwar days when all the audiences wanted a good pep rally). But imo that's what sets it apart from most of the other films of the period. Like Citizen Kane, it dares to leave us a bit frazzled.

[–] twm-2 17 years ago

You make a very good point. The twist at the end where Muni gains the upper hand over Satan, ensuring he gets the juiciest positions in Hell, is an entertaining and even logical way for the movie to end. Nonetheless, I feel that if his selfless actions at the end had actually resulted in the intervention of a real angel, snatching him out of the clutches of Satan and bringing him up to heaven, with Rains fuming impotently in the background, would have been an even better finish. It's not that I always prefer happy endings--a look at my favorite films would lead one to think just the opposite--but the feel good vibes of "my" ending would, I think, rival those of the denouement in It's a Wonderful Life--and who couldn't use another film that ended with that kind of transcendent joy?

Fighting for Truth, Justice, and making it the American way.

[–] Danusha_Goska 17 years ago

I agree with the opening post and I would definetly change the ending.

The ending as it is now is theologically muddled and not logical -- in other words, it doesn't follow the internal logic of the movie.

The movie tells us that

1.) There is a God

2.) There is satan

3.) There is a heaven

4.) There is a hell

5.) Human Beings can overcome Satan by listening to the angel on their shoulder

6.) Dead souls can change the course of their fate and events by returning to earth.

Under the movie's own logic, Eddie *should* have gone to heaven. Under that logic, his returning to hell ... just overturns the last hour of the movie.

[–] twm-2 17 years ago

Actually, I think the second poster, rooprect, makes a good argument for the ending as filmed, and I concur with his assessment that the filmed ending has a certain internal logic to it--the crime boss regaining his position as top dog--only now in Hell. Still, I agree with you (and my original post), that an ending that has Muni's character being snatched out of Satan's grasp and taken to heaven would have been even more satisfying.

Fighting for Truth, Justice, and making it the American way.

[–] TNA-Sting_Fan 16 years ago

In the remake that's exactly how it ended. With an angel rescuing Eddie.

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[–] gribfritz2 13 years ago

Your 6 is wrong. Was it said or shown that Eddie would be changing his "course" or "fate" or anything else? I thought he was given a chance, by the devil, to return to earth for vengeance. Nothing more. Here's a better 6.

6. When you live a horrible life, you go to Hell.

Regardless of what Eddie did as the judge, he still needs to pay for what he did throughout his entire life and cannot go to heaven. After all, that was EDDIE'S life. You can't judge Eddie's life based on what he did after his death in someone else's body. He is being judged for his own actions in his own body.

Of course, Eddie, who doesn't have to do the right thing in the end since he did overcome Satan, does it so the judge and the girl can be happy. Although this is a noble act, it doesn't nullify the lifetime of evil he has done. So instead of the overused Hollywood ending many want (oboyz da angelz saves him), we get a much better poetic justice type of ending. He still needs to pay in hell, but it will at least be the cushiest job in hell.

Do you really want an evil gangster and probable murderer to go to heaven because he performed a few kind acts? Remember, he did not atone for any sins nor even have any remorse about his past. What religion would allow that into heaven?

[–] beauedson 13 years ago

his #6 is perhaps right because it's so vaguely phrased, but his argument still fails because 'changing the course of his fate' is not the same thing as 'reversing the course of his fate'. he did change its course with the position upgrade in hell, but nothing in the movie's logic leads to him having been able to fully reverse it

also, continuing his relationship with the frenemy claude raines seems satisfying to me, it was the most prominent relationship in the movie, not sure why any viewer would want to see both it and the one with anne baxter eradicated

[–] Franz_Walsh 15 years ago

I liked the film overall. A lot of the movie depends on how willing you are to accept Paul Muni's stupido gangster street smarts outwitting Claude Rains' eloquent Devil. The interplay between the actors isn't great, but Muni's acting gradually gets better as the story unfolds, and Rains just might be the best person to play the Devil ever. Rains' articulate, rapier-witted performance matched with his unassuming physique is sheer perfection in casting. Muni's character doesn't seem to have the charm of a lead character who can outsmart Satan or win over the always loveable Anne Baxter, but he eventually earns his wings and grows on you. Most impressive for me is the set for Hell in which the thick atmospere of smoke, sweat, and kinky-looking guards practically make feel the swelter of the flames and smell the dank air of rottenness.

As far as the ending goes, I felt it was perfect for the picture because Muni's life as a mortal was corrupted and his fate was sealed. Tacking on a sugary ending would have made the film less memorable and wouldn't stay true to minor gangster spirit of the movie. It concludes with Muni getting warmth from both above the ground and beneath, and that's enough for Muni and this little movie to be considered decent.

[–] twm-2 15 years ago

I agree with much of what you write, though I still think the "sugary" ending I suggested would have made the film more memorable--but I certainly agree with your comments about Rains. He is certainly a great actor--capable of playing most anything (compare, for instance, his portrayal of an angel in "Here Comes Mr. Jordan," the corrupt but charming and dapper chief of police in "Casablanca," and the megalomaniacal conductor/composer in "Deception" to name but a few of his many outstanding characterizations.

Fighting for Truth, Justice, and making it the American way.

[–] VelvetVoice 15 years ago

I disagree with Danuska Goska, in the fact that the ending of the film IS logical, biblically speaking. In the theological sense, a person only has his lifetime to repent and make amends. He was dead and was a member of Hell, which is the penalty for sin. Any less than that, and you can forget about God, and justice. Notice that the Devil said that he would show him agonies unimagined.

The two points I didn't get, why would he listen to God when there was no longer any hope. And why did he think that he would get a position as trustee when he didn't do the devil's bidding.

I really liked the depiction of Hell, and the quote from Dante "Abandon all hope, all ye who enter here."

Overall, a very satisfying movie.

Velvet Voice

[–] hachmom-1 14 years ago

I always assumed the ending was due to the demands of the Production Code,,,the remake with Peter Straus in the 80's handled things more satisfactorily if you are among those who believe that Eddie should have been rewarded in the afterlife.

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