WE'RE NO ANGELS (1955)

Film of the Day #243 - 25 Days of Christmas Movies #22

WE’RE NO ANGELS
1955 • Michael Curtiz

Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, Peter Ustinov, Joan Bennett, Basil Rathbone, Leo G. Carroll, Gloria Talbott, John Baer
Screenplay: Ranald MacDougall; Based on La Cuisine Des Anges by Albert Husson; My Three Angels by Samuel and Bella Spewack
Cinematography: Loyal Griggs
Music: Frederick Hollander
Producer: Pat Duggan

Paramount Pictures

- I’m going to buy them their Christmas turkey.
- “Buy”? Do you really mean “buy”?
- Yes, buy! In the Spirit of Christmas. The hard part’s going to be stealing the money to pay for it.

(Apologies for the truncated entry today. I have been sick, but still wanted to get an entry posted today, even if it was short.)

Unless you’re a film dork like me, you probably haven’t even heard of this one. But trust me, it’s hilarious. The film is about three escaped convicts (led by Humphrey Bogart) who end up on a small French colonial town right before Christmas. They find a store that gives supplies on credit, so they hatch a scheme to pose as roofers to fix the store’s roof in exchange for food/supplies/clothes. Their plan, however is to never actually fix the roof and just rob them once night falls. Eventually, the three criminals have a change of heart when the family that manages the store is exceedingly nice to them and feel even guiltier when they realize the store is already in financial dire straits. They decide to stay on as “roofers” and fix the books to make the store profitable and even go so far as murdering the true owners of the store so the generous family can keep their living. A rare black Christmas comedy from 1950s Hollywood.

We came here to rob them and that's what we're gonna do - beat their heads in, gouge their eyes out, cut their throats. Soon as we wash the dishes.

Streaming: Paramount+, Kanopy, Pluto TV, Watch TCM
Digital Rental/Purchase: Available at major digital retailers
Physical Media: Available on Blu-Ray and DVD