Angel on My Shoulder (1945)

 This is a riff off Here Comes Mr. Jordon (its written by the same man) only this one has a Gangster (Paul Muni) returning to earth from Hades not  Heaven. And Clause Rains isn't an angel - he's the Devil. So, why return to earth?  Simple, the Gangster wants revenge, and the Devil wants to destroy Goody-Goody Judge Parker who's body the dead Gangster will inhabit.  Of course, there's a girl (Ann Baxter) who gets in the way of both plans.  

For the first 30-40 minutes this is a well done, entertaining film.  The "Rub out" is excellent, and both Rains and Hades are humorously fascinating.  Unfortunately, the movie dies once Muni returns to earth and becomes the Judge. He has no chemistry with Baxter, and doesn't have the star power or comic timing necessary for the part. And script doesn't really add much either.  

Paul Muni

I hate to always bash Paul Muni because he was actually a good (not great) actor.  But  he didn't have the charisma to be leading man. In Angel on my Shoulder, he's a believable Brooklyn Gangster. So believable,  I didn't recognize him at the start.  But that's makes him an actor with good range, not a good leading man - which is what the part requires. Unsurprisingly, the film did poor business in 1945, and Muni thereafter confined himself to supporting roles or "actor roles".

Summary:  A lost opportunity. An excellent set-up, but poor execution and casting dooms Angel on My Shoulder to mediocrity.  Too bad   Rating **