Angel on My Shoulder
A dead gangster makes a deal with the Devil.
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.
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.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Archie Mayo
- Producer
- Charles R. Rogers
- Story
- Harry Segall
- Screenplay
- Harry Segall / Roland Kibbee
- Starring
- Paul Muni / Anne Baxter / Claude Rains
- Music
- Dimitri Tiomkin
- Cinematography
- James Van Trees
- Editing
- Asa Boyd Clark
- Studio
- Premier Productions
- Distributor
- United Artists
- Released
- 20 September 1946
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film was an independent production produced by Charles R. Rogers and David W. Siegel, written by Harry Segall and Roland Kibbee. The producer changed the original title of Me and Satan, concerned that the public would not see a film about the devil. 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 honest. Nick wants to destroy Parker's reputation, and Kagle agrees to have his soul transferred into Parker's body in exchange for the opportunity to exact revenge on Williams. As Kagle appears as Parker, odd things begin to happen. He pursues his goal with evil intent, but everything he does to ruin Judge Parker's reputation somehow makes Parker look better. Kagle falls in love with Barbara Foster, the judge's fiancée, causing him to question his outlook and eventually rebel against Nick. Nick presents Kagle with the opportunity to shoot Williams, but instead Kagle confronts Williams, who backs away and falls out of an open window to his death. Kagle is eager to stay, but Nick tells him that every moment he is present he is denying Parker and Barbara their rightful life together. Kagle agrees, bids Barbara farewell and relinquishes Parker's body. Nick takes Kagle back to Hell, and Kagle blackmails Nick into making him a trusty.
Reader's Guide
Angel on My Shoulder is notable as Archie Mayo's final directorial effort and for its public domain status in the United States since 1973, which has allowed wide availability. The film's original title, Me and Satan, was changed by the producer due to concerns that audiences would avoid a film about the devil. The plot, involving a dead gangster who swaps souls with an honest judge, was remade for television in 1980 with a different ending: in that version, God appears and takes the protagonist to Heaven, reasoning that he has changed for the better and is worthy of redemption. The film remains a reference point for supernatural comedies and moral-reversal narratives.
Did You Know?
- The film's original title was Me and Satan, changed by the producer who feared the public would not see a film about the devil.
- The film's U.S. copyright expired in 1973, leaving it in the public domain there.
- The 1980 television remake has a different ending where God appears and takes the protagonist to Heaven.
- The film was directed by Archie Mayo as his last film.
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