A boxer mistakenly sent to heaven returns to Earth in a stranger's body.
In short: In the 1941 fantasy comedy Here Comes Mr. Jordan, a prizefighter is prematurely plucked from life by an officious angel. Discovering the error, he returns to Earth to continue his career, but must navigate the complications of inhabiting the body of a wealthy, murdered banker to find his destiny.
The film, directed by Alexander Hall, originated from Harry Segall’s 1938 play, Heaven Can Wait. Columbia Pictures president Harry Cohn, typically risk-averse, backed the project despite its unconventional premise. The story follows Joe Pendleton, a boxer who dies in a plane crash due to a celestial clerical error. In the afterlife, the titular Mr. Jordan explains that while Joe’s soul is intact, his physical body has been cremated, forcing him to occupy the vessel of Bruce Farnsworth, a corrupt banker recently murdered by his wife and secretary.
The narrative explores themes of identity and destiny as Joe uses Farnsworth’s resources to right wrongs and pursue his boxing dreams. The film’s success relied on a strong ensemble, including Robert Montgomery as Joe and Claude Rains as the celestial guide, Mr. Jordan. Critics at the time, such as Theodore Strauss of The New York Times, praised the film as a witty and wise comic fantasy. It earned significant critical acclaim, placing fifth on The Film Daily’s year-end poll of 548 critics and securing multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
Beyond its initial success, the film left a lasting mark on Hollywood, inspiring a wave of afterlife-themed movies like A Guy Named Joe and Angels in the Outfield. Its influence spans decades, with remakes and homages appearing in various forms, from Warren Beatty’s 1978 film Heaven Can Wait to international adaptations and even a 1942 nod in Road to Morocco. Today, the film remains highly regarded, holding a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 21 critic reviews, and has been preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Here Comes Mr. Jordan
- Also: Wikidata — Here Comes Mr. Jordan · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-here-comes-mr-jordan.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
