‘Here Comes Mr. Jordan’ (1941) and ‘Down to Earth’ (1947)

In this installment of “Comparing Classic Cinema,” we step into a fantasy and its remake.

Terpsichore (Rita Hayworth) and Messenger 7013 (Edward Everett Horton), in "Down to Earth." Columbia Pictures

Fantasy films are all the rage today, including elaborate science fiction stories, superhero flicks, and complex sagas set in alternate universes. Supernatural films were not popular during the Golden Era of Hollywood, but they did exist. A few movies contained whimsical or magical elements, like “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1935). However, the majority of otherworldly flicks were about ghosts or angels.

The angel genre was quite popular in the 1940s and 50s, and it all started in 1941 with “Here Comes Mr. Jordan.” The success of this movie adaptation of the play of the same name inspired other stories about angels. However, its remake, “Down to Earth” (1947), added a mythological narrative and musical numbers.

‘Here Comes Mr. Jordan’

“Here Comes Mr. Jordan” was based on the 1938 play “Heaven Can Wait” by Harry Segall. Fighter Joe Pendleton (Robert Montgomery), known as the Flying Pug, loves flying in his private plane and playing the saxophone between boxing matches. Before an important match, he insists on flying by himself back to New York, which concerns his nervous manager, Max Corkle (James Gleason).