Angel on My Shoulder

Angel on My Shoulder is a 1946 American supernatural film featuring Paul Muni, Anne Baxter, and Claude Rains. The story centers on a pact made between the Devil and a deceased man. Archie Mayo directed the picture, which was his final film, and it was distributed by United Artists.

The film was an independent production, with Charles R. Rogers and David W. Siegel as producers. The screenplay was written by Harry Segall and Roland Kibbee. The producers changed the original title, Me and Satan, because they worried audiences would avoid a movie about the devil.

Plot

After being released from prison, gangster Eddie Kagle is murdered by his partner, Smiley Williams. Kagle arrives in Hell, where a figure called "Nick" offers him a chance to leave and get revenge in exchange for solving a problem.

Kagle happens to look exactly like Judge Frederick Parker, an honest man who is troubling Nick. Nick fears Parker may cause more trouble if he becomes governor, so he wants to ruin Parker's reputation. Kagle agrees to have his soul placed into Parker's body, gaining the chance to get back at Williams.

Once Kagle appears as Parker, strange events unfold. Kagle pursues his goal with malicious intent, often working against the Devil's wishes, but every attempt to damage Parker's reputation somehow makes Parker look better. Along the way, Kagle falls in love with Barbara Foster, the judge's fiancée, which makes him question his life and eventually rebel against Nick.

Nick gives Kagle a chance to shoot Williams, but instead Kagle confronts him with the truth. Shocked and frightened, Williams backs away and falls out an open window to his death. Since Kagle has committed no wrongdoing since returning to life, he is beyond Nick's power.

Kagle wants to stay, start a life with Barbara, and continue Parker's work helping troubled youth. However, Nick points out that every moment Kagle remains, he is denying Parker and Barbara their rightful life together. Kagle agrees, says goodbye to Barbara, and leaves Parker's body, allowing the couple a tearful reunion.

Defeated, Nick takes Kagle back to Hell, leaving Judge Parker in a much better position. Nick threatens to make Kagle's punishment even more painful, but Kagle blackmails him: in exchange for not revealing Nick's mistakes, Kagle wants to become a trusty. Nick agrees.

The film's U.S.