Angel On My Shoulder (1946)

The Devil arranges for a deceased gangster to return to Earth as a well-respected judge to make up for his previous life.

Director: Archie Mayo
Cast: Paul Muni, Anne Baxter, Claude Rains, Onslow Stevens, George Cleveland, Erskine Sanford, Marion Martin, Hardie Albright, James Flavin, Jimmie Dundee, Murray Alper, Sam Ash, Joan Blair, James Carlisle, Maurice Cass, Chester Clute, James Dime, Mike Donovan, Eddie Dunn, Joel Friedkin, Curt Furburg, Sol Gorss, Jonathan Hale, Noble Johnson, Kurt Katch, Edward Keane, Kenner G. Kemp, Connie Laird, Mike Lally, Fritz Leiber




Paul Muni gives another classic performance in this wonderful comic fantasy about a notorious gangster who is murdered by a double-crossing partner. While in Hell, he makes a deal with the Devil, played with relish by Claude Rains, to return to earth. Muni plans to take the place of a candidate for governor, who happens to be a dead ringer for his spectral self, which enables him to revenge his premature demise while helping Satan recruit new souls with his new powerful governor status. Things backfire however, when the innate goodness of the real governor gradually starts to affect his replacement, turning Muni into a force for good in such a way even his Satanic Majesty doesn’t expect.

Extras:
- A welcome supplement indeed is a 1941 Leon Errol comedy from RKO entitled Lord Epping Returns. Anyone who has seen the Mexican Spitfire films starring Lupe Velez and Leon Errol will recognize the Epping character as being that series' most entertaining figure. The short presented here is an amusing short version with the usual mix-ups between the Epping character appearing and disappearing and being constantly mixed up with Errol pretending to be him. Watch the short before the feature to get a more Saturday matinee feel to the whole show.
- The disc also includes short biographies with selected filmographies for stars Paul Muni, Claude Rains, Anne Baxter, director Archie Mayo, and composer Dimitri Tiomkin

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