CHARLEY AND THE ANGEL (1973, U.S.)

Charley
and the Angel

(1973, U.S.) color 93 minutes
Walt Disney Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures
Story: Will Stanton (from his novel,
“The Golden Evenings of Summer”)
Screenplay: Roswell Rogers
Music: Buddy Baker
Songs: Ed Scott, Shane Tatum
Cinematography: Charles F. Wheeler
Produced by Bill Anderson
Directed by Vincent McEveety

With: Fred MacMurray (Charley Appleby), Cloris Leachman (Nettie Appleby), Harry Morgan (The Angel), Kurt Russell (Ray Ferris), Kathleen Cody (Leonora Appleby), Vincent Van Patten (Willie Appleby), Scott C. Kolden (Rupert Appleby), George Lindsey (Pete), Edward Andrews (Banker), Richard Bakalyan (Buggs), Barbara Nichols (Sadie), Kelly Thordsen (Policeman), Liam Dunn (Dr. Sprague), Larry D. Mann (Felix), George O'Hanlon (Police Chief)

***

In June,1973, Walt Disney Productions released Charley & The Angel . The story opens on a summer night in a small mid-western city during the mid 1930s. Sitting on the back porch of their home, Mrs. Nettie Appleby (Cloris Leachman)is enjoying the night-time sky. Unfortunately, Nettie’s husband, Charley (Fred MacMurray, in his last movie role) is more concerned about his failing hardware business. Charley's involvement with his store is taking away valuable time from his family.

Charley’s daughter Lenora is involved with a young man named Ray Ferris (Kurt Russell), who spends his time at a local speakeasy called Sadie's Place, and his two sons are also getting into mischief. Nettie tries to make her husband aware of his neglect of the children, but Charley doesn't listen. The next day, strange things start to happen to the thoughtless store owner. Charley has trouble staring his car: he is nearly killed when a mallet falls from the shelf, nearly smashing in his skull, and he is almost rear-ended by a truck.

When his car is stalled again in a nearby alley, Charley sees a little old man sitting on top of his car's hood. The old gentleman (Harry Morgan, Colonel Sherman Potter on TV’s “M*A*S*H”) tells Charley that he is his Angel and that his number is up! Of course, Charley doesn't believe this nut, and tells him to get lost. The Angel (his earthly name was Roy Zerney) tries to convince his charge that he is a real Angel, but the cynical fellow in not convinced until the Angel disappears and reappears in front of Charley wearing a white robe and wings, and playing a harp.

Now convinced of this spirit's indentity, Charley pleads with the Angel to give him more time to prepare for the end. The Angel is unable to give him more time, but says he'll talk to his superiors and get back to him. Returning home, Charley tries to deal with the situation by talking with his family at the dinner table. Nettie and the kids (One of Charley’s sons is played by Vincent Van Patten, who played a son on TV's “Apple's Way”) are uncomfortable with the patriarch's kindly pose, and they reject his offer to take them to the movies.

While Charley tries to prepare for his death, Lenora is heading for a rendezvous with Ray Ferris at Sadie's Place. Charley follows and tries to stop them from going into the speakeasy, but the owner, Sadie, grabs a hold of Charley and engages him in a very fast dance. The police soon break in and Charley and the entire crowd is arrested. Surprisingly, Lenora and Ray were not caught in the raid. The story is printed in the newspapers, and Nettie is outraged at her husband's involvement in such antics.

The Police Chief (George O'Hanlon, star of The Joe McDoakes film comedies and the voice of George Jetson in TV’s “The Jetsons”), also a family friend, is not amused by Charley's antics and following his release on bail, warns Charley not to get into any more trouble. But more trouble comes. When Charley’s sons need more money to take the family on a trip to The World's Fair in Chicago, the boys obtain a job at Felix' junk yard. The Junk Yard, however, is really a front for the Mob, who uses Felix' (Larry D. Mann's) truck to deliver illegal whiskey Sadie's Place.

Needing someone to deliver the moonshine without being suspected. the old junk dealer hires Charley's sons to drive the truck to Sadie's Place. They do this for a time, and they are no problems until one day when two mobsters (Dick Bayailkin and Mills Watson) force the boys to take the booze to Sadie's Place at gun point. Felix tries to stop the two hoods from hurting the kids, but he is knocked out by one of the two crooks.

Charley comes onto the scene and after reviving Felix tells him that his sons have been captured by two hoods and they are in danger. Frightened for his sons' lives Charley hops into his car and gives chase. The hoods are no fools and turn a corner and wait until Charley's car drives past them. When he is out of sight, the foursome deliver the booze and then the crooks take the boys to the Appleby home, where they hold the entire family hostage.

Deciding that he has had enough of the mobsters' abuse, Charley confronts them and one of the hoods (Mills Watson) pulls a gun on Charley and is about to shoot. But, the bullet is not fired. Charley takes away the pistol and clobbers the two hoods. The police arrive and take the pair into custody. Finding out from the police chief and the bank president (Edward Andrews) that there is a big reward offered for the capture of the crooks.

The family makes plans to go to The World's Fair, but Charley gets a message from the Angel that he wants to see him. Telling his family that he has an errand to attend to, Charley leaves the house and heads off to meet the Angel. The Angel tells Charley that his superiors are not going to let him die and that he'll never know when his number is up. The Angel even tells Charley that he was the one that grabbed the bullet from the crook's gun before it fired; thus the Angel saved Charley's life. “I guess I'm just an old softie,” says the Angel with a smile. Charley is puzzled by the Angel's change of heart, but tells his charge, “You'd better get home, Charley, and get your family ready for your trip to The World's Fair.”

The next day, the entire Appleby Family is driving to Chicago, Illinois along a country road, but the Angel appears one more time to give Charley a wink and a smile before flying off into the morning skies. Charley says goodbye to his friend, while Nettie asks, “Who are you saying goodbye to, Charley?” Charley replies, “Oh, just saying goodbye to Summer, Nettie,” and they drive off on their trip towards a new life.

***

Charley & The Angel was based on a book, “The Golden Evenings Of Summer” by Will Stanton. I first saw this film at The Allterton Movie Theater in the Bronx, NYC in June of 1973. Charley & The Angel didn't get great reviews from the critics, but I enjoyed it, mainly because of the performances from the cast. Fred MacMurray is engaging as the well-meaning but neglectful family man. Cloris Leachman is funny as the befuddled wife and mother, and Harry Morgan is hilarious as the Angel. Charley & The Angel was Fred MacMurray's last movie (with the exception of appearing in a made-for-TV movie drama in 1978 on ABC TV). The movie also features a voice-over performed by Hal Peary (radio's “Great Throckmorton Gildersleeve”)as the voice of a kids' radio show host.

- Kevin S. Butler

Video/DVD availability: VHS/DVD (Disney Home Video)