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4.0 out of 5 stars
Although not great, still worth seeing, Jul 15 2002
Don Ameche stars as a turn of the century playboy who still has a good heart, and so the devil isn't convinced he belongs in Hell. He gets to tell his life story, which is recounted in the film, to see whether he really belongs in Satan's Realm after all.Although Ameche and Tierney have the starring roles here, Charles Coburn as the puckish and witty Grandpa steals many of the scenes. And Laird Cregar is superb as the Devil, a role he underplays with irony, wit, and charm, and he seems more like a bemused business executive rather than the Prince of Darkness himself. I would go so far as to say his supporting-role performance is actually the best part of the movie. A brief note on Cregar, which I turned from up the IMDB database. Can you believe he was only 26 or 27 when he played this role? He looks and acts like a suave, sophisticated, man in his 40's! Unfortunately Cregar died of complications from a crash diet. He had wanted to play leading-man roles, but when the 6' 3" tall but husky Cregar decided to lose weight rapidly, he developed heart complications from the severe diet, and he died at only age 28--a great loss. Although Ameche is good in the role, I think it required a little more intensity and energy, and perhaps even roguishness, than Ameche displayed, but he still comes off as a basically good human being, despite his philandering ways with women--who we really don't get to see much of anyway in the film--so he doesn't seem like that successful a playboy, either. And the goodness part is important, since that's why the Devil thinks he may have come to Hell by mistake. Last but not least, the period sets are lavishly realized and certainly add to the overall ambience of the movie. And there are some funny scenes where the overly polite, New York upper- crust society of Ameche's family is contrasted with Tierney's crustier, but more down-to-earth and plain-speaking, parents from Kansas City. In the end, the Devil decides in Ameche's favor. When Ameche steps into the elevator connecting Heaven and Hell, he turns to Cregar and says expectantly, "Down?" And Laird Cregar has the last scene-stealing word, as he manages to seem both playful and ironic as he pronounces his fateful decision and says, No--up!" Overall, although not great, still a good movie. Big Steve says go see it (or in this case, rent it or buy it), and don't Bogart the popcorn.
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