Gregorio and The Angel

Broderick Crawford

Mexican 95 mins Color 1966

Bizarre and maudlin fantasy with US star Broderick Crawford as a hopeless alcoholic who undergoes a trial of faith under the guidance of a pixie-ish ^Angel^. Filmed in Mexico but spoken in broken English by Mexican actors. Jerry Lewis clone Tin Tan plays a great devil in several incarnations. The obnoxious little angel-girl is kidnapped by the devil to become a carnival prophet. You also get to hear a Mexican version of ^Love Me With All Your Heart^ sung while Gregorio is in Acapulco. A weird flick with funny dialog, and a slick TV-movie exposition that is both overwrought and overwhelming. Crawford, however, is stunning as the heartfelt drunk, in a role reminiscent of Charles Laughton in the haunting THE BEACHCOMBER.