Charley et l'ange

Charley And The Angel was the final film that Fred MacMurray did for the Walt Disney Studio. It was certainly a profitable association for both Disney and MacMurray although this one does not come anywhere near such things as The Absent Minded Professor or The Shaggy Dog.

MacMurray as Charley Appleby is a workaholic just tending to business at the hardware store day after day and ignoring his family which includes wife Cloris Leachman and kids, Kathleen Cody, Vincent Van Patten, and Scott Kolden. Kathleen's got a pair of boyfriends interested in her in Kurt Russell and Ed Begley, Jr. And the boys are getting themselves into mischief.

MacMurray after a couple of close shaves gets a visit from guardian angel Harry Morgan who says because of those things, he's fouled up the celestial schedule. But he's on borrowed time and MacMurray now waking up and smelling the coffee decides he'd better change his lifestyle.

The Disney family formula was wearing a bit thin. I don't think it was an accident that Fred's last three films with Disney were all set in the past. Disney's current star of modern type comedies was the all American Kurt Russell.

The younger brothers innocent involvement with gangsters was something of a hoot however. I'm surprised Vincent Van Patten didn't go on to do more Disney items, he seemed perfect as a Magic Kingdom type.

Harry Morgan is a droll sort of angel who gets to do a bit of scenery chewing with MacMurray. He's easily the best one in the film.

Fans of Fred MacMurray should appreciate this.

It's a solid film, but they could've done so much more with the premise.

I liked the vast majority of the early knockings of 'Charley and the Angel', as it sets up a potentially extremely interesting plot that will be filled to the brim with heart and impact. Unfortunately, in reality it barely scratches the surface of the latter things. They do make the story meaningful, but it's very much underdone. The reasoning for Charley being in the situation isn't fully portrayed either, just told as how it is.

Fred MacMurray adds to that initial feeling of mine, his acting is very good at the beginning; especially with his face and body language. He's still the standout throughout but, like the film itself, he falls flatter as he goes on.

Running MacMurray very close is Harry Morgan, who is rather excellent as The Angel - I just wish we could've had more with him. I also liked the score incorporating "Hello! Ma Baby" into it when he's on-screen, which is amusing. None of the other characters really get much to work with.

I do like this film by and large, I just feel it could've been greater.

Family man and hardware store owner in the 1930s cheats death and is visited by a persnickety angel with a scheduling conflict. Fred MacMurray, his eyebrows arched in malevolent ill-will and his hair darkened black as patent-leather, plays the hero like a galumphing, sexless clod. His character of Charley never makes a wise decision, never says the proper thing at the correct time...he can't even drive on the right side of the street! As the heavenly apparition, Harry Morgan cracks wise and wastes time with dead-end lines like, "Don't worry Charley, your wife can't see or hear me." It's "Topper" for under-achievers, or perhaps children too young to know any better. Technical aspects good, but the supporting cast is filled with wheezing old-timers looking for their piece of scenery to chew on. *1/2 from ****

The 1970s were great years for Disney live action movies. I know that the studio struggled during those years but a lot of movies they released at that time were really good. I remember seeing "Charley and the Angel" in the theater (Bellerose, NY). I liked it then and I still like it now. It may lose its way once in a while but "Charley and the Angel" comes through by the end. Fred MacMurray give a very good performance (despite his overly dyed hair). The rest of the cast is also very good. "Charley and the Angel" does a nice job balancing the action with the emotion. I may have not laughed out loud but I smiled a lot. Honorable mention: a very dreamy Pat Delany.

TV veterans hammer out a movie version of "It's a Wonderful Life" without the Jimmie Stewart classic's charm and humanity. Harry Morgan plays the angel and Fred MacMurray is Charlie, the grizzled shopkeeper who realizes he has to put on a happy face. All told, half-baked.