Movie Type: Fantasy Comedy, Heaven-Can-Wait Fantasies
Themes: Ghosts
Main Cast: Frank Morgan, Keenan Wynn, Cecil Kellaway, Audrey Totter, Richard Quine
Release Year: 1946
Country: US
Run Time: 81 minutes
Plot
Frank Morgan plays a turn-of-the-century shipbuilder who dies of a sudden heart attack. Morgan is summoned to Heaven by the ghost of the father (Keenan Wynn), who'd been killed in a barroom brawl at an early age and thus is now younger than his own son! After a few amusing efforts at testing his spectral powers, Morgan elects to stick around on earth for a while to straighten out some unfinished business. He is especially eager to put the brakes on his onetime best friend (Cecil Kellaway), who was supposed to invest Morgan's savings but who plans to abscond with the funds and leave Morgan's widow penniless. A bolt of lightning solves everyone's problems, and Morgan peacefully heads heavenward with his dad. Based on a play by George Seaton, Cockeyed Miracle is a charming example of the sort of comedy/fantasy fare popular with filmgoers of the 1940s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Though far less known than other fantasy films such as Here Comes Mister Jordan or Topper, The Cockeyed Miracle is a delightful little piece of whimsy that will please those who enjoy lighthearted "back from the dead" comedies. It's definitely fluff; there's nothing of any real consequence in Miracle, despite talk about family bonds and responsibility. But it's handled in such an appealing manner that most viewers won't care bout the lack of weight. Karen de Wolf's screenplay (based on George Seaton's play) gets a great deal of mileage out of the fact that the ghost of the recently-deceased Frank Morgan is decades younger than his prematurely-deceased father Keenan Wynn. This could have gone nowhere fast, but Morgan and Wynn play it for all its worth and make an asset out of it. As a matter of fact, these two marvelous character actors are largely responsible for Miracle's success. Sure, S. Sylvan Simon has directed with a surprisingly deft touch and keeps the film moving at a good pace. But it's Morgan and Wynn that add the imagination to Miracle -- aided by Cecil Kellaway as Morgan's not-to-be-trusted still-living partner. Gladys Cooper also does quite well, and Audrey Totter certainly makes the screen look prettier whenever she appears. Miracle is a sweet, often very funny way to pass the afternoon. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
S. Sylvan Simon - Director, Ben Lewis - Editor, David Snell - Composer (Music Score), Ray June - Cinematographer, Irving Starr - Producer, Karen de Wolf - Screenwriter, George Seaton - Play Author
