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Columbia Pictures
Down to Earth
A picture different from anything ever screened before!
Boxer Joe Pendleton, flying to his next fight, crashes...because a Heavenly Messenger, new on the job, snatched Joe's spirit prematurely from his body. Before the matter can be rectified, Joe's body is cremated; so the celestial Mr. Jordan grants him the use of the body of wealthy Bruce Farnsworth, who's just been murdered by his wife. Joe tries to remake Farnsworth's unworthy life in his own clean-cut image, but then falls in love; and what about that murderous wife?
CinemaSerf
Dec 4, 2023 · via TMDB
Robert Montgomery is really quite good in this engaging fantasy story. He's a boxer ("Joe") working with coach "Max" (the frequently scene-stealing James Gleason) for a crack at the world title. Then, suddenly, he is joining a queue to get into Heaven. Surely some mistake, he says - and after a bit of investigation by the eponymous administrator (Claude Rains) it is discovered that he's fifty years too early. Send him back - well unfortunately his friends were a little too zealous on the cremation front so there's no longer a body. "Jordan" concludes that it's best to find him another one - and they alight on millionaire "Farnsworth". It's a bit of a baptism of fire for "Joe" especially when his decision to do the right thing by some small investors earns him the enmity of his board and the need for yet another "host". He's getting fed up, "Jordan" is getting fed up - what's to be done? The story is amiably well written with Montgomery and developing love interest "Julia" (Rita Johnson) working well together as the story gathers an entertaining pace, tempered by a charmingly measured performance from Rains and Edward Everett Horton as the source of all the woes in the first place. It's Gleason, towards the end, that makes me smile - all thanks to some incredulity and a saxophone. Well worth a watch.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Robert Montgomery
Joe Pendleton
Evelyn Keyes
Bette Logan
Claude Rains
Mr. Jordan
Rita Johnson
Julia Farnsworth
Edward Everett Horton
Messenger 7013
James Gleason
Max Corkle
John Emery
Tony Abbott
Donald MacBride
Inspector Williams
Don Costello
Lefty
Halliwell Hobbes
Sisk
Benny Rubin
Bugs
Warren Ashe
Charlie (uncredited)
Lloyd Bridges
Sloan (uncredited)
Chester Conklin
Newsboy (uncredited)
Maurice Costello
Ringsider at Fight (uncredited)
Joseph Crehan
Doctor (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson
Board Member (uncredited)
Eddie Bruce
Reporter (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin
Reporter (uncredited)
Mary Currier
Secretary (uncredited)
Alex Dreier
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
William Forrest
Reporter (uncredited)
Theresa Harris
Mother Listening to Hurdy-gurdy (uncredited)
John Ince
Bill Collector (uncredited)
Bobby Larson
Chips (uncredited)
Carl M. Leviness
Board Member (uncredited)
Philo McCullough
Board Member (uncredited)
James Millican
Ringside Broadcaster (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse
Ringside Broadcaster (uncredited)
Sol Murgi
Boxing Match Spectator (uncredited)
William Newell
Murdock Handler (uncredited)
Jack Perry
Photographer (uncredited)
Cyril Ring
Board Member (uncredited)
Scott Seaton
Board Member (uncredited)
Charles Seel
Board Member (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Larry Wheat
Board Member (uncredited)
Douglas Wood
Board Member (uncredited)
Edith Head
Costume Design
Alexander Hall
Director
Viola Lawrence
Editor
Morris Stoloff
Music Director
Friedrich Hollaender
Original Music Composer
Seton I. Miller
Screenplay
Harry Segall
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Aug 7, 1941
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Seven Dorms of Death
2015
Preview
1982
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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