Here Comes Mr.
Jordan
Selection for the Weekend of
March 2 - 4, 2001
How many stories are out there to write? How much originality exists in the
real world? So, every once in a while (OK, maybe alot), producers, directors,
writers and stars reach back into the vault and decide to remake a classic.
Many of you have probably seen Down To Earth
with Chris Rock, which is a remake of
Heaven Can Wait starring Warren Beatty,
which is a remake of this week's WaffleMovies.com selection,
Here Comes Mr. Jordan (which was based
on the play Heaven Can Wait).
Robert Montgomery (the father of
Bewitched's Elizabeth Montgomery) stars
as Joe Pendleton, and up-and coming-boxer in line for a title shot. He's
in the best shape of his life and only needs to win one more fight to get
a match with the champion. After training in New Jersey, Joe decides to fly
up to New York, but he encounters trouble.
Joe's plane crashes and he is transported to heaven, where he meets Mr. Jordan
(Claude Raines) an angelic bureaucrat, who discovers that it wasn't Joe's
time to die. A mistake has been made, and everyone on Earth is supposed to
fulfill his destiny, so Mr. Jordan decides to offer Joe a second chance.
He puts Joe in the body of Mr. Bruce Farnsworth. However, Farnsworth faces
some big troubles.
Will Joe be able to set things straight? Can he deal with his new life, or
will his old one come calling?
Columbia originally didn't want to make the film, but writer Sidney Buchman
appealed to studio president Harry Cohn. While the film was highly original
(a fantasy/comedy/drama at a time when most films fell into a specific category)
and scared the financial advisors for Columbia, Cohn felt daring. In the
end, the gamble paid off as Here Comes Mr.
Jordan yielded Oscar nominations for Best Actor (Montgomery),
Best Picture, Best Story, Best Screenplay and 3 others. Also, it spawned
several similar films like A Guy Named
Joe.
While Montgomery won the Best Actor nod, Raines, in my opinion, put in a
better performance. Who knows how an angel is supposed to act? Well, that
was the challenge facing Raines as he created a character who has charm and
heart. He controls each scene with a regal flair that endears him to the
audience.
I think you'll find this one entertaining and uplifting. Also, look for a
surprise appearance by then-unknown actor Lloyd Bridges!
Grade:
A-
Directed by Alexander Hall
Written by Sidney Buchman and Seton Miller
Based on the play Heaven Can Wait by
Harry Segall
Cast
Robert Montgomery ..... Joe Pendleton
Evelyn Keyes ..
..Bette Logan
Claude Rains ..
.. Mr. Jordan
Rita Johnson ..
.. Julia Farnsworth
James Gleason ..
Max Corkle
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