Heaven Only Knows (film)
| Heaven Only Knows | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Albert S. Rogell |
| Produced by | Seymour Nebenzal |
| Written by | Aubrey Wisberg |
| Screenplay by |
Art Arthur Rowland Leigh Rowland Leigh |
| Starring |
Robert Cummings Brian Donlevy Marjorie Reynolds |
| Music by | Heinz Roemheld |
| Cinematography | Karl Struss |
| Edited by | Edward Mann |
Production company |
Nero Films |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Heaven Only Knows is a 1947 Western directed by Albert S. Rogell, starring Robert Cummings, Brian Donlevy and Marjorie Reynolds.
Plot summary
Due to a clerical error in heaven, a man who was to become a solid citizen and community leader, Duke Byron (Brian Donlevy), is born without a soul and instead becomes a corrupt gambling hall owner. To his dismay, he discovers that he has a guardian angel, Mike (Robert Cummings), who shows up in the guise of an Eastern tenderfoot, sent to help put Duke on the life path for which he was originally destined.[1]
Mike returns to 1887 and the town of Glacier, Montana, where rival saloon owners Duke and Plummer also both want the deed to a rich copper mine. Mike makes sure Duke meets schoolmarm Drusilla Wainwright, knowing they were fated to be together but under orders not to work miracles or interfere.
Duke mistakenly believes Mike to be the Kansas City Kid, a gunfighter out to kill him. His henchman Treason decides to burn down Plummer's saloon, but a sickly child Duke likes, Speck O'Donnell, is trapped inside. Duke rescues him. Drusilla begins to fall in love with Duke, hoping he has seen the error of his ways.
A gunfight is arranged between Duke and Plummer to see which one gets the mine. A town drunk is killed by mistake, whereupon Duke shoots Plummer, angering the townspeople. Vigilantes intend to hang Duke, and when they can't catch him, they decide to lynch Mike instead. At the last minute, Duke is able to save Mike's life and reform his own. Mike rides off into the sunset and toward heaven, with the young boy Speck by his side.
Cast
- Robert Cummings as Michael
- Brian Donlevy as Adam 'Duke' Byron
- Marjorie Reynolds as Ginger 'The Copper Queen'
- Jorja Curtright as Drusilla Wainwright
- Bill Goodwin as Bill Plummer
- John Litel as Reverend Wainwright
- Stuart Erwin as Sheriff Matt Bodine
- Gerald Mohr as Treason
- Edgar Kennedy as Judd
- Lurene Tuttle as Mrs. O'Donnell
- Peter Miles as Speck O'Donnell
- Will Orleans as Kansas City Kid (as Will Orlean)
- Ray Bennett as Lawyer Creel
- William Farnum as Gabriel (uncredited)