Here Comes Mr. Jordan
Here Comes Mr. Jordan

Movie spotlight

Here Comes Mr. Jordan

1941
Movie
94 min
English

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?

Insights

IMDb7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes92%
Metacritic84/100
Google Users90%
Director: Alexander HallGenres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Plot Summary

Joe Pendleton, a talented boxer, dies unexpectedly and finds himself in the afterlife. He's informed by a heavenly messenger, Mr. Jordan, that there's been a mistake and he's not supposed to die yet. Joe is given a chance to return to Earth in a new body, but he must prove himself worthy before his original body is restored. He takes over the body of a wealthy, disliked businessman, attempting to mend his ways and win back the love of his girlfriend, all while his manager tries to unravel the mystery of his disappearance.

Critical Reception

Here Comes Mr. Jordan was a critical and commercial success, praised for its imaginative premise, witty screenplay, and strong performances. It was nominated for several Academy Awards, winning for Best Story. Its blend of comedy and philosophy resonated with audiences and critics alike, establishing it as a classic of its genre.

What Reviewers Say

  • A delightful and witty fantasy comedy with a thoughtful premise.

  • Robert Montgomery delivers a charming performance as the protagonist.

  • Praised for its original story and effective blend of humor and heart.

Google audience: Audiences loved the film's inventive concept and humorous situations, with many appreciating its optimistic and feel-good nature. The performances, particularly Robert Montgomery's, were frequently highlighted as a major strength.

Awards & Accolades

Won Academy Award for Best Story (Harry Segall). Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Alexander Hall), Best Actor (Robert Montgomery), and Best Screenplay.

Fun Fact

The film was so popular that it was remade in 1978 as 'Heaven Can Wait' and also inspired the 2001 film 'Down to Earth'.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

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 ...

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