Fantasy films are all the rage today, including elaborate science fiction stories, superhero flicks, and complex sagas set in alternate universes. Supernatural films were not popular during the Golden Era of Hollywood, but they did exist. A few movies contained whimsical or magical elements, like “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1935). However, the majority of otherworldly flicks were about ghosts or angels.
‘Here Comes Mr. Jordan’
“Here Comes Mr. Jordan” was based on the 1938 play “Heaven Can Wait” by Harry Segall. Fighter Joe Pendleton (Robert Montgomery), known as the Flying Pug, loves flying in his private plane and playing the saxophone between boxing matches. Before an important match, he insists on flying by himself back to New York, which concerns his nervous manager, Max Corkle (James Gleason).While he’s flying, a control cable snaps, and the plane starts a downward spiral as Joe tries to regain control. The next thing he knows, the plane has crashed, and he’s standing next to the wreckage with stuffy Messenger 7013 (Edward Everett Horton), who informs that he has come to collect his soul. Up in heaven, Joe keeps insisting that it isn’t his time to die yet, so 7013 must consult his supervisor, Mr. Jordan (Claude Raines).
The records indicate that Joe was supposed to survive the accident, but Messenger 7013 took his soul before the plane crashed. Mr. Jordan orders his soul to be returned to his body, but there is one problem; Max has already had him cremated! Mr. Jordan orders 7013 to find a new body for Joe, who dislikes the idea because his body was “in the pink.”
After Joe turns down several specimens, he learns of dishonest millionaire Bruce Farnsworth, who is being drowned by his wife (Rita Johnson) and secretary (John Emery) so they can steal his fortune. Joe wants nothing to do with the messy situation until he sees an exchange between Mrs. Farnsworth and Bette Logan (Evelyn Keyes), a sweet young woman whose father has been arrested for crimes Farnsworth committed. Joe decides to take over Farnsworth’s body so that he can help Bette, while training his new body to become a boxing champion. However, the two murderers are still out to get him.
‘Down to Earth’
“Down to Earth” was intended to be the further adventures of Mr. Jordan and Messenger 7013 as they provide celestial assistance in another situation. Only two actors from the original film reprised their roles in the remake, Edward Everett Horton and James Gleason. Sadly, Claude Rains, who was notorious for not being available for remakes, was replaced by Roland Culver.
The fanciful narrative about the afterlife presented in the original introduces one of the Nine Muses from Greek mythology. In “Down to Earth,” Terpsichore (Rita Hayworth), the Muse of Dancing, is outraged to learn that a Broadway producer, Danny Miller (Larry Parks), is making a musical which depicts her in an inaccurate and unflattering way. She asks Mr. Jordan to let her go down to earth as a human being so she can help Miller make his play a success.
Mr. Jordan grants her request, but sends Messenger 7013 along to keep an eye on her. She comes into a rehearsal and instantly entrances Danny. He puts her in the show, however, she isn’t content with just starring in the play; she wants to change it according to her ideas.
Angels and Mount Olympus
In the 1940s, angel movies were more fanciful and a little far-fetched than most people’s belief systems at the time, and this is particularly true of “Here Comes Mr. Jordan.” Nevertheless, the film manages to pull it off with great actors and a clever script.
Claude Rains did not reprise his role in “Down to Earth.” Although Alexander Hall, who directed both films, said he preferred Culver to Rains in the role, I think Rains’s absence is one of the biggest reasons that “Down to Earth” pales in comparison to its predecessor.
The other reason is the bizarre blend of genres. In this film, the Greek gods of Mount Olympus exist in the same theological realm as Mr. Jordan and his jet-propelled messengers. The play’s musical numbers are also goofy, and all the music seems a little weak when you consider that the singing voices of both leads were dubbed. Nevertheless, Rita Hayworth is in fine dancing form, and there is some beautiful Technicolor imagery.
“Here Comes Mr. Jordan” is a unique, surprisingly endearing movie with a clever mix of genres and some hilarious lines. “Down to Earth” is a sequel that stands on its own story-wise, but doesn’t match the quality of the first.
