Copyright 29 March 1969 by Universal Pictures, Inc. U.S. release: 7 February 1969. No U.K. release. 105 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: A Methodist minister unites opposing mayoral factions in the small town of Wood Falls, Kansas.
PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Andy Griffith almost succeeds in a big-screen comeback.
COMMENT: Andy Griffith is here making his first film in eight years, after a considerable success on television. Those two facts alone would stamp Angel in My Pocket firmly as a non-headline flick. But a "religious" picture to boot? Angel would be lucky to make the support slot at a midweek matinee.
Actually, despite its "G" rating, the movie actually falls between two stools. Whilst the theme itself would discourage the average picturegoer, its treatment would outrage all church people - particularly the reverend's visit to a burlesque rehearsal with its scantily clad "Girls of All Nations."
In point of fact Angel is a reasonably entertaining domestic comedy. Doesn't tell you anything about Christianity of course, but it does take in some nice hymns, a short sermon or two, a lot of slapstick fighting, a bit of romance, a shot of spookiness, and a great deal of farcical shouting and screaming. Mr Griffith holds it all together amiably enough, occasionally drawing on the help of seasoned comedians like Kay Medford and Margaret Hamilton or less experienced but equally personable players like Gary Collins and Joy Harmon.
A tendency by just about everybody to over-act, however, is prevalent throughout, a problem compounded by the director's emphasis on close-ups. (But this said, it must be added that Rafkin often fills his wide screen with pleasing images).
Pleasantly superficial, reasonably well-produced, Angel will entertain most patrons. The only problem is how to sell them tickets.
Angel comes to a cosily predictable, highly superficial conclusion, but one that will leave audiences happy.
OTHER VIEWS: Rank Film Distributors (who handled Universal product in the United Kingdom) rejected the movie and as a consequence it was never shown in Great Britain. Rank's refusal was based on Griffith's total lack of appeal to British cinemagoers and the proven fact that religious pictures - unless they happened to be based on best-sellers like A Man Called Peter and The Song of Bernadette - were box-office poison. However, despite Rank and the impediment of TV-style direction with its emphasis on unattractive and distractingly too-revealing close-ups, this is an enjoyable little comedy that not only moves at a reasonable pace but has a refreshing air of verisimilitude.
Though some of the players seem determined to exaggerate their portraits way past the point of caricature, for the most part the movie is appealingly acted. Production values, including a bright music score, are otherwise fair. - John Howard Reid writing as Charles Freeman.
SYNOPSIS: A Methodist minister unites opposing mayoral factions in the small town of Wood Falls, Kansas.
PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Andy Griffith almost succeeds in a big-screen comeback.
COMMENT: Andy Griffith is here making his first film in eight years, after a considerable success on television. Those two facts alone would stamp Angel in My Pocket firmly as a non-headline flick. But a "religious" picture to boot? Angel would be lucky to make the support slot at a midweek matinee.
Actually, despite its "G" rating, the movie actually falls between two stools. Whilst the theme itself would discourage the average picturegoer, its treatment would outrage all church people - particularly the reverend's visit to a burlesque rehearsal with its scantily clad "Girls of All Nations."
In point of fact Angel is a reasonably entertaining domestic comedy. Doesn't tell you anything about Christianity of course, but it does take in some nice hymns, a short sermon or two, a lot of slapstick fighting, a bit of romance, a shot of spookiness, and a great deal of farcical shouting and screaming. Mr Griffith holds it all together amiably enough, occasionally drawing on the help of seasoned comedians like Kay Medford and Margaret Hamilton or less experienced but equally personable players like Gary Collins and Joy Harmon.
A tendency by just about everybody to over-act, however, is prevalent throughout, a problem compounded by the director's emphasis on close-ups. (But this said, it must be added that Rafkin often fills his wide screen with pleasing images).
Pleasantly superficial, reasonably well-produced, Angel will entertain most patrons. The only problem is how to sell them tickets.
Angel comes to a cosily predictable, highly superficial conclusion, but one that will leave audiences happy.
OTHER VIEWS: Rank Film Distributors (who handled Universal product in the United Kingdom) rejected the movie and as a consequence it was never shown in Great Britain. Rank's refusal was based on Griffith's total lack of appeal to British cinemagoers and the proven fact that religious pictures - unless they happened to be based on best-sellers like A Man Called Peter and The Song of Bernadette - were box-office poison. However, despite Rank and the impediment of TV-style direction with its emphasis on unattractive and distractingly too-revealing close-ups, this is an enjoyable little comedy that not only moves at a reasonable pace but has a refreshing air of verisimilitude.
Though some of the players seem determined to exaggerate their portraits way past the point of caricature, for the most part the movie is appealingly acted. Production values, including a bright music score, are otherwise fair. - John Howard Reid writing as Charles Freeman.