We’re No Angels (1955)

We’re No Angels
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Written by Ranald MacDougall from a play by Albert Husson
1955/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] Joseph: We came here to rob them and that’s what we’re gonna do – beat their heads in, gouge their eyes out, slash their throats. Soon as we wash the dishes.[/box]

Here’s a lesser-known movie for your Christmastime viewing.  Unfortunately, it won’t be making  my list.

The entire story takes place at the end of the 19th Century on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day somewhere in French Guyana.  Two murders, Albert (Aldo Ray) and Jules (Peter Ustinov), and one con man, Joseph (Humphrey Bogart), have escaped from Devil’s Island.  They blend in well with all the parolees in the town where they land and have plans to take the first ship out.  This is stranded in the harbor because of a health quarantine.

The trio hatch a number of schemes to feed themselves in the meantime.  They chance upon the shop of Felix Ducotel (Leo G. Carroll) and sign on as day laborers, planning to carry out a major robbery that night.  But Felix is very kind to them and the lonely men take a liking to his wife Amelie (Joan Bennett) and daughter Isabelle.

The shop is failing and Felix is terrified of its owner, his Uncle Andre (Basil Rathbone).  His daughter is in love with Andre’s cousin Paul.  Andre is on the quarantined ship with Paul. They eventually bribe their way off the ship and arrive intent on auditing the shop’s books. The convicts contrive to help the family celebrate Christmas, rid themselves of Andre, and let true love triumph.

Obviously, this has quite the dynamite cast.  I just didn’t find it very funny and the heartwarming part felt phony to me.  Maybe it was the idea of loveable murderers.  This has a high IMDb user rating and might be someone else’s cup of tea.

Trailer