Angel on My Shoulder
Gangster Eddie Kagel is killed by a trusted lieutenant and finds himself in Harry Redmond Jr's special effects Hell, where Nick/The Devil sees that he is an-exact double for a judge of whom Nick doesn't approve. Eddie is agreeable to having his soul transferred to the judge's body, as it will give him a chance to avenge himself on his killer. But every action taken by Eddie (as the judge) results in good rather than evil and, to Nick's dismay, the reputation and influence of the judge is enhanced, rather than impaired by Eddie. And Eddie also falls in love with the judge's fiancée, Barbara. Even Eddie's planned revenge fails and Nick is forced to concede defeat. He returns to Hell, taking Eddie with him, after Eddie has extracted his promise that Nick will not molest the judge or Barbara in the future.
Angel on My Shoulder is a 1946 American fantasy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Paul Muni, Anne Baxter and Claude Rains. The plot is about a deal between the Devil and a dead man.
The film was an independent production, produced by Charles R. Rogers and David W. Siegel, written by Harry Segall and Roland Kibbee, and released by United Artists. The film was Mayo’s last before his retirement.
The producer changed the original title, Me and Satan, when he concluded that the public would not see a film about the Devil.
Plot
After his release from prison, gangster Eddie Kagle is killed by his partner in crime, Smiley Williams. Kagle ends up in Hell, where “Nick” offers him a chance to leave and avenge his own death in exchange for help with a problem. Kagle looks exactly like Judge Frederick Parker, an upright man who is causing Nick distress because he is entirely too honest. Nick fears that Parker may cause him more anxiety in future, as he is running for governor of his state. Nick wants to destroy Parker’s reputation and Kagle readily agrees to have his soul transferred into Parker’s body.
As soon as Kagle appears as Parker, odd things begin to happen. Kagle pursues his goal with evil intent (though often at cross purposes with the Devil), but everything he does to ruin Judge Parker’s reputation somehow results in making Parker look better. Along the way, Kagle falls in love with Barbara Foster, the judge’s fiancée, causing him to question his whole outlook on life and eventually rebel against Nick.
Nick presents Kagle the opportunity to shoot Williams, but instead Kagle confronts the man with the truth. Shocked and frightened, Williams backs away and falls out an open window to his death.
Exasperated and defeated, Nick takes Kagle back to Hell, leaving Judge Parker in a much better position than before. Nick threatens to make the reformed Kagle’s punishment even more painful than usual, but Kagle blackmails his would-be tormentor; in return for not revealing Nick’s blunders, Kagle wants to be made a trustee. Nick has no option but to agree to the demand.
Cast
Paul Muni as Eddie Kagle/Judge Fredrick Parker
Anne Baxter as Barbara Foster
Claude Rains as Nick
Onslow Stevens as Dr. Matt Higgins
George Cleveland as Albert
Erskine Sanford as Minister
Marion Martin as Mrs. Bentley
Hardie Albright as Smiley Williams
James Flavin as Bellamy
Fritz Leiber as Chemist (uncredited)
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