Review of Angel on My Shoulder (1946) by Mike F — 20 Jul 2008

Released in the same year as the classic It's a Wonderful Life, this is a great little after-life tale in the same vein. Paul Muni, one of the forefathers of method acting was about a decade past his best works, but makes a strong turn here as the gangster sent to hell by one of his own men. He makes a deal with the devil, played with vigor by the unmatchable Claude Rains, and returns to Earth in the body of a judge that Old Scratch wants to do away with. Of course, Mephistopholes didn't count on Anne Baxter, who gives the thug a new chance, and could send the evil one's plans back where they came from.

I'm not sure there's been a better devil than Rains. His face is always in the shadows, following the lead around with a puzzled look in moments of levity and a quick suggestion in any moment of doubt. His performance alone is worth the price of admission, but there's more to be said for the cast. Muni gives a classic turn, reminiscent of the best gangsters of early cinema, and Baxter - a few years before hitting it big with All About Eve - is a charming counterbalance. Add in a great score by Dimitri Tiomkin, some good cinematography and lighting, and an ending that's not what you'd expect, while maintaining sharpness, and you've got a classic of any genre.