The Angel Levine (1970)

"Infused with a warm, wry wit" (Los Angeles Times), The Angel Levine is a moving examination of the need to believe and the desire to be believed in. Featuring "wildly funny dialogue" (Time) and a "superb cast" (LA Herald-Examiner), this modern-day morality tale is a poignant and entertaining gem. Things couldn't get worse for Jewish tailor Morris Mishkin (Zero Mostel). His shop has gone up in flames, his daughter has married outside the faith and, worse yet, his wife is slowly dying. But just when he decides to give up on God, a mysterious man (Harry Belafonte) appears, claiming to be his Jewish guardian angel! Doubtful that the stranger is Jewish, never mind an angel, Mishkin must overcome his skepticism if he wants one last chance at redemption.

Wish it were better

Since I was teaching the short story I wanted to also show the film.
Loved seeing young Harry Belefonte and early Zero Mostel but the film does not have
impact of the short story and drags. The musical score is really irritating.
The two main characters were actually miscast, according to the story.
Karol Verson January 9, 2007

Such a good movie!

It may be a movie that mostly adults would see, but I saw it with my mother, and I loved. I found it very confusing, but my mother expained it to me during the movie. August 2, 2005

interesting story line and historical too

I found the movie very interesting. I may be biased toward the film since actually I appear in the last scene of this movie (one of the boys at the study table in the black synagogue that Zero Mostel visits) The late Chief Rabbi W.A. Matthew (my grandfather)has an appearance in the movie leading the study group discussion in the historic landmark Harlem synagogue. Although not in the final edit, during filming it was an interesting scripted discussion.
-David Matthew Dore' April 14, 2004

Great Movie

I watched this on cable and loved it so much I had to buy it. Very different Kind of Movie. I really enjoyed it so much:-) August 27, 2002

Promise Unfulfilled

Zero Mostel plays a poor schlemiel by the name of Mishkin, who is visited by a Jewish angel named Levine. Levine is played by Harry Belafonte! This certainly promises some very clever and very amusing moments. Unfortunately, the promise remains unkept. In fact, the film never really gets started. I can remember thinking what a long time it was taking to get going, and then the closing credits started to scroll; it never got going. What is particularly disappointing is that this is a film I wanted very much to like. Alas, we don't always get what we want. December 1, 2000

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