Review of Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) by John W — 01 Apr 2015
Starring Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains and Evelyn Keyes. You may already know the basic premise since it was remade as "Heaven Can Wait" with Warren Beatty in 1978 and more recently as "Down to Earth" (2001) with Chris Rock.
Joe Pendleton (Montgomery) is a saxophone-playing boxer who is plucked from an airplane disaster by a heavenly messenger (Edward Everett Horton). In his haste, the messenger neglects to save Pendleton's body from being destroyed in the crash so a new 'vessel' must be found for the former athlete's spirit.
Mr. Jordan (Rains), who is in charge of newly arrived souls in Heaven, solves the dilemma by placing Pendleton inside the body of just-murdered millionaire Bruce Farnsworth and revives him, completely baffling Farnsworth's evil wife (Rita Johnson) and her lover (John Emery).
Complicating matters even further are Farnsworth's romance with a woman (Keyes) handling a financial crisis for her father and his preparation for a championship boxing match under Pendleton's former trainer (James Gleason).
In spite of its outlandish premise, "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" successfully suspends one's disbelief through its expert performances, witty dialogue, and energetic direction by Alexander Hall.
This review of Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) was written by John W on 01 Apr 2015.
Here Comes Mr. Jordan has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
