On A List of Movie Reviews
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Angel on My Shoulder (1946)
Rate:
5
Viewed:
1/26
1/26:
After a legendary run in the 30's, the next decade proved to be unkind for Paul Muni.
In Angel on My Shoulder, the esteemed actor is a mix of good and ordinary. Most likely, he was unable
to grasp the kind of character he needed to be as Eddie Kagle. When Paul Muni, Anne Baxter, and Claude Rains
were together in one scene, I immediately thought of "Scarface and Eve Harrington with the Invisible Man in
the background."
Worse is the story. It almost never makes sense. The confusion begins when Eddie Kagle is transported into
Judge Parker's body. However, I like the beginning and then the Dalí-esque scene when he finds himself
in hell. That's when the film had potential to be something.
Another disappointment is the pairing of Paul Muni and Anne Baxter. He's too old for her: 50 versus 22. Yet
she looks beautiful for 1946 and will continue to build up her résumé until hitting the zenith of
her career: All About Eve. On the other hand, Claude Rains looks
rather bored of everything, so he just smirks.
All in all, despite the strong cast of Paul Muni, Anne Baxter, and Claude Rains, Angel on My Shoulder
doesn't work well, plot-wise.