Angel on My Shoulder

Angel on My Shoulder

Year: 1946

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: Archie Mayo

ComedyFantasyRomanceRelationship comedyGritty crime and ruthless gangsters

An angel perches on his shoulder as the devil lurks in his heart, pulling him opposite ways. To settle his debts, the devil revives a dead gangster, giving him a new life as a judge. Caught between celestial guidance and infernal temptation, he must use his judicial power to atone for past sins and face the pull of both angelic and demonic forces.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Angel on My Shoulder (1946)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Angel on My Shoulder (1946). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The story unfolds in a contemporary American setting where a gangster's fate intertwines with a judge's career ambitions, via a supernatural bargain. The plot moves between the underworld and elements of legal and political life, creating a clash of morality and ambition. The timeframe feels mid-century in tone, though a specific year is not stated.

Location

Hell, Courtroom, State Capitol

Hell is depicted as a literal realm where souls are judged and bargains are struck. On Earth, the story oscillates between a courtroom drama and a political campaign as Parker fights to maintain integrity while being contrasted with Kagle's misdeeds. The setting highlights the moral stakes of the characters' choices.

🔥 Hell 🏛 Courtroom 🗳 State Capitol

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:02

Main Characters – Angel on My Shoulder (1946)

Meet the key characters of Angel on My Shoulder (1946), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Eddie Kagle / Judge Frederick Parker (Paul Muni)

A gangster who dies and is thrust into Parker's body, using the switch to pursue his vendetta and escape Hell. His criminal instincts clash with Parker's honesty, creating escalating moral conflict. He falls in love with Barbara Foster and begins to question his path, ultimately choosing to relinquish Parker's life for the right outcome.

🪞 Dual identity 🎭 Deception ❤️ Love ⚖️ Redemption

Barbara Foster (Anne Baxter)

Parker's fiancée who becomes the moral center of the story as Eddie masquerades as Parker. Barbara's feelings are caught between Parker's virtue and Eddie's growing humanity, testing loyalties and the possibility of love transcending deception.

❤️ Love 🕊️ Trust 🎭 Conflicted loyalties

Nick (Claude Rains)

The supernatural force in Hell who orchestrates the body switch to manipulate Parker's career and test Eddie. He fears Parker's honesty and tries to thwart the judge's rise by corrupting impressions and reputations. His power is bound to the bargains he makes, even as Eddie's choices threaten Nick's control.

😈 Devil 🪄 Manipulation 🗣️ Deceit

Smiley Williams (Hardie Albright)

Kagle's partner whose murder sets the bargain in motion. He becomes the target of Eddie's manipulation, then faces the consequences of the truth when confronted by Eddie's revelations. His fear leads to a fatal fall, underscoring the perils of crime and deceit.

💀 Crime 😨 Fear 🕳️ Death

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:02

Major Themes – Angel on My Shoulder (1946)

Explore the central themes of Angel on My Shoulder (1946), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪞 Identity

A central tension is the body swap that makes Eddie inhabit Judge Parker's life, forcing both men to confront who they really are. Deception and altered perception drive much of the plot as reputations flip depending on appearances. The story asks whether a person can be measured by actions or by outward identity.

❤️ Redemption

Eddie's initial malevolence gradually collides with Parker's moral framework, leading to a personal transformation. His love for Barbara provides a path toward choosing truth over vengeance. The arc culminates in sacrifice, as he relinquishes Parker's life for the right outcome.

⚖️ Power & Justice

Nick's manipulation shows how power and reputation can be weaponized to influence politics and the legal system. Parker's integrity is tested by crime, deceit, and the temptation of personal gain. The climax reveals that truth and responsibility ultimately shape justice, not mere force.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:02

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Angel on My Shoulder Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Angel on My Shoulder, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Angel on My Shoulder Summary

Angel on My Shoulder Timeline

Track the full timeline of Angel on My Shoulder with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Angel on My Shoulder Timeline

More About Angel on My Shoulder

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