Half Angel (1951)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

The Worst Film Ever

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Copyright 11 May 1951 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy: 15 June 1951. U.S. release: May 1951. U.K. release: 24 September 1951. Australian release: 2 November 1951. 6,819 feet. 76 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A reserved young nurse with a split personality pursues her subconscious love while sleep-walking.NOTES: Commenced shooting late July 1950 with director Jules Dassin at the helm. COMMENT: The only scene that may be Dassin's is the first in the hospital — a long take with some complex camera movements. True, there are other long takes in the film — indeed the direction is generally more stylish than Sale's norm — but nothing else that would indicate any mastery of the cinema. The script is too lightweight for Dassin anyway, so his exit comes as no surprise. It's a very slight bit of whimsy indeed, unusual for a Robert Riskin script in that it is such a trifle. All the same, Riskin has added some attractive conceits. These find their full expression in the amusement park sequence (photographed on location at Long Beach) in which Edwin Max as a delightfully disgruntled attendant is induced to ride the roller-coaster. The following courtroom episode continues the jest neatly.Why dress up this slight trifle with Technicolor? Well it needs color to give it a bit of substance. In fact it's the color photography more than the script and the acting that makes the story and its people reasonably interesting. Of course Technicolor also benefits the attractive Loretta Young no end and makes her costumes especially appealing. It also enhances both the real locations in downtown Los Angeles and the extensive back-lot filming.Mockridge's music score is suitably lively. Miss Young sings/breathes the Newman/Blane ballad with appropriate finesse.The support players are also very able. Max, as mentioned, is a stand-out, but even glum Cotten is quite watchable. And there's Backus, Ruysdael, Ryan, Kellaway (though Cecil does seem to be trying a bit too hard).

Bachelor lawyer John Raymond(Joseph Cotton)suddenly is a very confused and frustrated man, thanks to a strange gorgeous woman(Loretta Young)who appears at his home one dark evening, claiming she is Princess Felicity: the girl with the magic lips, kissing his forehead to eradicate some imaginary warts(she calls him Frog!). She tends to the scrapes and bruises he suffered when tripping(twice!) over the low handle of a mower in the dark of his yard. She plays his piano and sings. Then, she says she has to go home before the witch she lives with awakens.The next day, John sees the Princess (or Jug Head as he sometimes calls her) on the street and greets her, but she doesn't seem to recognize him, and tells him to buzz off. This drives him nuts. That evening, he is getting on a train for Washington. She appears in the train boarding area, again, dressed in an evening dress and acting flirtaceous. He gets off the train and she encourages him to kiss her. They go to an evening amusement park and have fun on the roller coaster, even giving the operator a ride. The next day, John goes to the hospital(where she is a nurse), but she acts very hostile, and slaps him for being fresh. She talks to a doctor , who suggests perhaps her subconscious mind is telling her she actually loves John, although she thinks she hates him. She takes him to court, presumably, for stalking. Nobody can believe his tale, and he loses the case.That evening, she is preparing for her wedding to Tim the next morning. She falls asleep, but soon gets dressed seductively, and goes outside, where John is waiting. They kiss and John suggests they get married that night. They find a minister and a couple of witnesses, and go through the marriage ceremony. They go to a motel(why not his house?), with separate beds(as required by the then production code!) for the night. Princess awakens first, and is shocked that John is in a bed next to hers. She gets dressed and climbs out the window(why?), taking John's pants with her, which she throws over a fence(and which probably contain their marriage license, judging by a later comment by John!). She goes home and gets ready for her next wedding. I leave the conclusion for you to discover. At present, it's available at You Tube.Yes, Princess Felicity is one dizzy dame. It appears that a case of split personality has been fused with a propensity for sleepwalking. On the surface, there might be just enough plausibility for such a combination to tease our imaginations. But, basically, this is a fairy tale. That's OK as long as we recognize it as such. The plot is then seen as very simple, with a few holes, reasonably interesting, and well executed.

Half Angel (1951) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Incredibly charming and sweet romantic comedy about a shy and ordinary girl (Loretta Young) who doesn't know it but is in love with a lawyer (Joseph Cotten). She's about to be married to another man but she also sleepwalks and this is when she's able to confess her love for the lawyer. When she's awake, she hates him. This film doesn't have the best reputation but I loved nearly every second of it. You've certainly gotta wonder how Young can walk and talk while "sleepwalking" but that minor quibble aside, this is a great little gem. Young and Cotten have great chemistry together and both are very light on their feet and give terrific comedic performances. I've never seen Cotten so funny, although I haven't seen him in too many comedies. Young is a charming as ever and the supporting cast offers nice laughs as well. This Technicolor film is yet another Young film in the vaults of Fox.

I really like Loretta Young films. I think she was a great actress in her time. I would like to see more of her films such as Paula, Half Angel, etc. I really hope that some of her rarely seemed films such as Paula and Half Angel...is available on video tapes.