Charley and the Angel

Charley and the Angel (1973)

Many people go through life not ever knowing how to live it. They pass through this mundane life never appreciating those around them. For several individuals it takes a supernatural ray of light to  knock them off their horse of complacency. It took Ebenezer 4 ghosts to get him to change the error of his ways, after showing him the overall scope of his entire life. For George one angel  showed him an alternate reality of what the world would be like if he was never born, before he realized how valuable life really is.

For Charley it didn’t take trips through time or visits to alternate realities to jar his world back into reality.  Those things only happen at Christmas anyway. It just took a simple visit from an angel named Roy telling him his time was up.  No heavy drama. No Scary visions of life altering events.  Just a simple reminder that; Hey life ends.

But for some reason death can’t seem to strike Charley. This leaves Roy to consult with the powers to be as to what’s the hold up. As Roy consults with his bosses, Charley tries to be more of a loving family man to his wife, 2 sons, a daughter and his dog. Not that he was ever that mean of a guy or a jerk to begin with. He just took life for granted managing his store, and going to the lodge that he neglected his family. His sudden change in attitude isn’t enough at first to establish a better relationship with his family. He suggests a night at the movies for everyone, but the household is so used to doing their own thing, they stick to the original plans they have all ready made. His boys end up going to the movies with their friends dad, whom ends up doing many things with themin general. Sorry Charlie. 

The time period is the great depression, back when jobs are scarce, the bank is temporarily closed. kids ran to the radio instead of the TV, and the World Fair was the big event. His wife dreams of going to the Worlds Fair which is held in Chicago during the time period of this film. The movie shifts back and forth from being somewhat dramatic, to light comedy, and to a moral fantasy parable with a touch of action thrown in.  After a lecture about finding a job in tough times, Charlie’s two boys get a job transporting illegal alcohol, which they think is cooking oil, to the local dance hall. Eventually there are gangsters popping up with a somewhat amusing car chase in what are now antique cars.

After telling his daughter’s boyfriend Ray, he should look elsewhere for romance, she runs off to get married to him. Ray is played by Disney veteran Kurt Russel, who worked with Fred in Disney’s ‘Follow Me Boys’. Fred Macmurry, ironically in one of his final film appearances, plays Charley. Harry Morgan plays the likable angel who pops up throughout the film to give Charley the update on his life and to give the audience  the most comedic moments of the film. The most amusing gag is when he plays out a tune on a tennis racket while dancing around Charlie's store.   Another amusing moment is when they first meet.Charley doesn’t believe Roy is an angel as he wears a suit and carries an umbrella. In order to prove he’s an angel, he lets Charley see him float in the air while wearing a robe and strumming a harp. Their are several amusing moments like this throughout the film. 

‘Charley and the Angel’ is never terribly exciting, but it’s amusing enough, fun enough, and nostalgic enough to watch with the whole family without having to worry about all the major pitfalls that plague family movies now a-days. It also is a gentle way in which to approach the topic of death to younger audiences. It actually made my wife cry as it brought up the reality that one day, one of us will die before the other. You don’t know when your time is up. But you don’t need to know. You just need to live your life as if every day would be your last.

Amusingly this movie also brought to mind the film ‘Son of Flubber’, which also had Fred in it. The scene in mind is in which a baby bounces up and down on the floor with Flubber diapers. This made my wife laugh which causes me to laugh and her laughter is one of the most amusing sounds I have ever heard and makes life worth living. 

For some reason or other this film is not available on DVD, but thanks to Amazon you can rent it for 2 bucks. If you want a good clean family film and are a Disney film enthusiast, it’s worth the rental. My wife puts it in the same category as ‘The Parent Trap’.  It’s good, but not that good. 


Other Non-Orthodox Angelic Afterlife Comedies

Here Comes Mt. Jordan 1941 Netflix
A Guy Named Joe (1942) VHS/DVD
I Married an Angel (1942) VHS
Heaven Can Wait  (1943)  Netflix
The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) VHS
Stairway to Heaven(aka A Matter of Life and Death) 1946
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
The Bishop's Wife (1947)
Angels in the Outfield  1951
Forever Darling  (1956)


Angels in the Outfield   1994
Angels in the Endzone  1997
Angels in the Infield 2000

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

The Preacher's Wife 1996