Director:
Michael Curtiz
Cast
Humphrey Bogart …. Joseph
Aldo Ray …. Albert
Peter Ustinov …. Jules
Joan Bennett …. Amelie Ducotel
Basil Rathbone …. Andre Trochard
Leo G. Carroll …. Felix Ducotel
John Baer …. Paul Trochard, Andre’s Nephew
Gloria Talbott …. Isabelle Ducotel
The Movie
In his time, Michael Curtiz directed some outstanding pictures. The Adventures of Robin Hood and Casablanca are two of the greatest movies ever made, with Errol Flynn and Humphrey Bogart enjoying the best roles of their vaunted careers. Curtiz was also behind the camera for White Christmas, which might be Big Crosby’s most famous role. Too bad the magic that Curtiz possessed on all of these pictures doesn’t translate to the screen in We’re No Angels, a pseudo Christmas tale that’s with little going for it. Even with a stellar cast that includes the aforementioned Bogart, Peter Ustinov, and Basil Rathbone, the film simply falls flat and lies there like a dog.
Bogart, Ustinov and Aldo Ray are escaped convicts on the run from the law on Christmas Eve. Fortunately, the island prison they escaped from has a small town close to it, which is inhabited by thousands of parolees that do menial labor for the local townsfolk. All of the convicts paroled are force to still wear their prison uniform in public, making hiding in plain sight quite easy.
Not pushing their luck, the three wander into a gift shop and pose as workers. Looking to rob the store initially, the trio is taken aback by just how nice the family is. Felix (Leo G. Carroll), the man whose family runs the shop, knows the three are likely to steal from him, but figures he isn’t making much money anyway, so it doesn’t matter. He’s just happy to help people in need.
It’s easy to see the appeal of the film initially. Three escaped convicts find themselves in a position to help a loving family that has many financial and personal problems. The shop isn’t making much money and Felix’s overbearing cousin, Andre (a dastardly Basil Rathbone), who owns the store is threatening to close it and throw the poor family out in the street. To make matters worse, Felix’s daughter Isabelle (Gloria Talbott) is in love with Andre’s son Paul, played by John Baer, who is forbidden to even talk to her.
The crooks decide to make it a Christmas to remember for Felix and his loved ones. They play match maker with Isabelle, and have fun with the shop’s books to make it look as if it’s competing with U.S. Steel. This is where the hilarity is supposed to ensue, but it doesn’t.
While there’s nothing particularly wrong with the performances or direction of the movie, the script is just lackluster and the pacing sluggish. Scenes that run out of cleverness early on just seem to keep going and going. Dialogue that should have some zing behind it just lands with a thud. Some scenes feature such an extreme amount of exposition that you wonder if the plot will ever get going.
Perhaps part of the problem is that virtually the entire picture takes place within the gift shop/house that the crooks are hiding in. A change of scenery may have helped make the film not seem as slow as it is. Also a police presence at all in the film would have given the picture a much needed tension that is severely lacking.
Instead, we get a film that is desperately trying to coast on its performances. For the most part, the picture is well cast as Bogart could read the ingredients to a Betty Crocker cake mix and still come off as witty and charismatic. Surprisingly enough, the actor is actually outdone on screen over and over. Peter Ustinov’s convicted murderer/safer-cracker displays his usual impish charm, and steals every scene he is in.
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to keep this film afloat. We’re No Angels is occasionally charming, but far from a good film. Michael Curtiz was obviously able to craft great films, but nobody’s perfect. If Bogart and Ustinov couldn’t salvage this sinking ship, no one could.
Score 4.5/10
The DVD:
The Video
This is a pretty bad transfer. Several scenes are loaded with grain where the color seems to be going in and out. This is really distracting, especially in a film that doesn’t have much going for it to begin with. The film is presented in a 1:85:1 Widescreen.
Score: 3.0/10
The Audio
The DVD’s lone saving grace. The sound here is decent. The soundtrack is in Dolby digital 2.0, and comes in crystal.
Score: 7.0/10
SPECIAL FEATURES: None
Score: 0.0/10
