311:), also guests at the hotel, recognize Athanael and learn of his assignment. They want to continue their pleasantly hedonistic life. While Athanael encounters trouble holding onto his trumpet by his inexperience with Earthly life, Osidro and Doremus hire Dexter to steal the instrument. Learning that Fran was rescued by Athanael, Dexter reconciles with her. Then, while she distracts the angel, Dexter's henchman Humphrey (
444:âs review was lukewarm: âThe film isâŚusually mildly amusing. It never, in spite of every oneâs best intentions, gets much funnier than thatâŚ.It is a pleasant change for Mr. Benny, something far from his wisecracking radio selfâŚ.The picture, never getting anywhere near the hilarious, is at its pleasantest when it caricatures a broadcast or pictures heaven as a stately bureaucracy.â The
272:
player in the orchestra of a late night radio show sponsored by
Paradise Coffee (motto: "It's Heavenly"), falls asleep listening to the announcer, who is doing his best to prove it is "the coffee that makes you sleep". Athanael dreams he is an angel (junior grade) and a trumpeter in the orchestra of
448:
was ambivalent as well: âIt takes a bold group of people to rush in on the territory covered so beautifully in âGreen
Pastures.â The wisdom of this is questionable from several points of view, but the failure is never due to lack of tryingâŚ.There is violence and slapstick, there are the wiles of
467:
now playing the Chief. This time the story was told in a straightforward fashion, with Benny actually playing an angel sent to Earth to blow the horn, as opposed to the dream scenario of the film. The radio story focuses on
Athaniel's moral dilemma about whether or not the people of Earth, just
296:). Dexter blames Fran and breaks off their relationship. When Athanael prevents her attempt at suicide from the hotel's roof, he misses the deadline. Elizabeth persuades her boss to give him a second chance, and travels to Earth to inform him.
449:
Reginald
Gardner and the temptations of Dolores Moran, and there are wild teeterings at the top of tall buildings. But somehow the comic fantasy doesnât come off as planned. The big build-up remains an architectural and overworked effort.â
29:
281:), he is given the mission of destroying planet 339001 (Earth) and its troublesome inhabitants by blowing the "Last Trumpet" at exactly midnight, signaling the
568:
Warner Bros financial information in The
William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1â31 p. 26
1658:
318:
Athanael, Elizabeth and her boss track the thieves to the roof. During a struggle, Athanael falls off the building, only to wake up from his dream.
230:
Following its poor box-office, Benny often exploited the film's failure for laughs over the next 20 years in his radio and television comedy series
288:
When he is deposited at the Hotel
Universe via the building's elevator, he accidentally foils a robbery attempt by suave guest Archie Dexter (
603:
250:. This may have contributed to its poor reception, although the film's negative reviews might have also impacted it, as the classic
1678:
1633:
1643:
1628:
1648:
1638:
702:
898:
1623:
1515:
1037:
831:
593:âWinsten, Archer. âMovie Talk: âThe Horn Blows at Midnightâ and All Day at the Strand.â New York Post, 21 April 1945.
240:
was Benny's last feature film as a lead, although he would continue to do cameo appearances in films for many years.
1376:
970:
906:
1157:
954:
743:
539:
1683:
1539:
1264:
882:
1547:
674:
1673:
1668:
1653:
1304:
1197:
874:
815:
1663:
1618:
1411:
1336:
1109:
1085:
855:
544:
1384:
791:
695:
518:
Possibly Benny's most memorable gag involving the film occurred in the 1957 episode of his TV show,
485:
as
Elizabeth. In 2013, this version was issued on an exclusive DVD available to those who purchased
1523:
1475:
930:
727:
477:
767:
759:
526:
to discuss a movie based on his life. At the studio lot, he casually asks the parking attendant (
260:, also dealing with the afterlife, opened on Broadway at roughly the same time and became a hit.
251:
432:
According to Warner Bros. records, the film earned $ 895,000 domestically and $ 75,000 foreign.
1467:
1419:
847:
487:
408:
366:
308:
232:
1555:
1451:
1443:
1248:
978:
946:
799:
735:
662:
247:
468:
suffering World War II, deserved to be extinguished with the Earth or given another chance.
1582:
1352:
1288:
1280:
1256:
1205:
1125:
1117:
1045:
783:
688:
384:
8:
1613:
1574:
1507:
1491:
1360:
1232:
1002:
922:
914:
890:
807:
396:
1240:
1165:
1149:
751:
256:
28:
1590:
1499:
1459:
1320:
1312:
1272:
1093:
1053:
667:
640:
372:
354:
289:
246:
had the misfortune to be released only eight days after the death of U.S. President
1368:
1296:
1077:
1061:
962:
823:
569:
523:
393:
as Lady Stover, a hotel guest annoyed at the frequent disappearance of the elevator
282:
277:), the assistant of the deputy chief of the department of small planet management (
236:, making the film a known entity to his audience, even if they had never seen it.
1173:
1101:
472:
378:
680:
1531:
1181:
1141:
1133:
938:
839:
775:
499:
The 1945 movie itself was released on DVD by Warner
Archives in November 2013.
482:
463:, broadcast March 4, 1949. Jack Benny reprised his character of Athanael, with
390:
65:
55:
573:
1607:
1427:
1189:
1069:
1029:
1010:
986:
493:
342:
293:
97:
51:
1224:
994:
656:
508:
464:
459:
420:
402:
348:
336:
312:
304:
300:
274:
141:
117:
83:
79:
1435:
712:
220:
107:
39:
645:
634:
1392:
414:
360:
330:
278:
224:
87:
75:
527:
1483:
651:
512:
1344:
269:
584:
Creelman, Eileen. âThe New Movie.â New York Sun, 21 April 1945.
481:
on
November 29, 1953, with Benny again playing Athaniel, and
475:
adaptation of the radio script was presented as a segment of
326:
Many of the actors play dual roles, in Heaven and on Earth.
530:) if he saw the movie. Blanc replies, "I DIRECTED IT!"
273:
Heaven. Due to the praise of his girlfriend
Elizabeth (
457:
The script was re-worked into an episode of radio's
511:reworked some of his music for the film in a comic
507:In addition to Benny's jokes on the film, composer
292:) and his girlfriend accomplice, Fran Blackstone (
710:
1605:
696:
515:for Orchestra that he performed on occasion.
452:
703:
689:
219:is a 1945 comedy fantasy film directed by
27:
564:
562:
560:
1659:Films with screenplays by Aubrey Wisberg
1606:
604:"THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM MARCH 6, 1955"
557:
684:
387:as Junior Pulplinsky (as Bobby Blake)
899:Lost and Found on a South Sea Island
13:
405:as Bass Player / Humphrey Rafferty
14:
1695:
628:
381:as Mme. Traviata / Miss Rodholder
268:Athanael (Jack Benny), the third
417:as Head Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
1679:Films about music and musicians
1634:American black-and-white films
596:
587:
578:
540:List of American films of 1945
345:as Violinist / Fran Blackstone
1:
1644:Films directed by Raoul Walsh
1629:American fantasy comedy films
1265:They Died with Their Boots On
550:
427:
363:as Radio Director / The Chief
299:Complications arise when two
1649:Films scored by Franz Waxman
1639:1940s English-language films
1548:The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw
675:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
435:
369:as First Trumpeter / Doremus
351:as Second Trumpeter / Osidro
7:
533:
522:, in which Benny drives to
423:as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
357:as Composer / Archie Dexter
10:
1700:
1624:1940s fantasy comedy films
1516:The Revolt of Mamie Stover
1412:Captain Horatio Hornblower
1329:The Horn Blows at Midnight
669:The Horn Blows at Midnight
658:The Horn Blows at Midnight
647:The Horn Blows at Midnight
636:The Horn Blows at Midnight
611:Old-Time Radio Researchers
545:List of films about angels
244:The Horn Blows At Midnight
238:The Horn Blows at Midnight
216:The Horn Blows at Midnight
22:The Horn Blows at Midnight
1566:
1403:
1216:
1021:
866:
856:Should a Husband Forgive?
719:
574:10.1080/01439689508604551
502:
453:Adaptation in other media
399:as Hotel Manager Thompson
375:as Radio Engineer / Sloan
204:
196:
188:
180:
170:
147:
137:
123:
113:
103:
93:
71:
61:
45:
35:
26:
21:
1524:The King and Four Queens
1476:A Lion Is in the Streets
156:April 20, 1945
16:1945 film by Raoul Walsh
321:
263:
252:Rodgers and Hammerstein
1540:The Naked and the Dead
1420:Along the Great Divide
488:The Jack Benny Program
315:) steals the trumpet.
233:The Jack Benny Program
1452:Blackbeard the Pirate
1444:The World in His Arms
1249:The Strawberry Blonde
1038:The Man Who Came Back
947:The Lady of the Harem
800:The Pride of New York
248:Franklin D. Roosevelt
1684:1940s American films
1377:One Sunday Afternoon
1289:Background to Danger
1206:The Roaring Twenties
1126:Every Night at Eight
1118:Baby Face Harrington
1046:Women of All Nations
1575:Esther and the King
1233:They Drive by Night
1003:The Cock-Eyed World
971:The Loves of Carmen
907:The Thief of Bagdad
891:Kindred of the Dust
808:The Innocent Sinner
490:: The Lost Episodes
1674:Films about dreams
1669:Films about angels
1654:Warner Bros. films
1556:A Private's Affair
1385:Colorado Territory
1166:Hitting a New High
1158:Artists and Models
832:Every Mother's Son
752:Blue Blood and Red
711:Films directed by
663:TCM Movie Database
411:as Radio Announcer
1664:Apocalyptic films
1619:1945 comedy films
1601:
1600:
1591:A Distant Trumpet
1583:Marines, Let's Go
1460:The Lawless Breed
1313:Objective, Burma!
1273:Desperate Journey
1054:The Yellow Ticket
955:What Price Glory?
520:Jack's Life Story
492:from distributor
373:Franklin Pangborn
355:Reginald Gardiner
290:Reginald Gardiner
212:
211:
1691:
1369:Fighter Squadron
1297:Northern Pursuit
963:The Monkey Talks
824:The Prussian Cur
768:The Honor System
705:
698:
691:
682:
681:
622:
621:
619:
617:
608:
600:
594:
591:
585:
582:
576:
566:
524:20th Century Fox
283:end of the world
163:
161:
31:
19:
18:
1699:
1698:
1694:
1693:
1692:
1690:
1689:
1688:
1604:
1603:
1602:
1597:
1562:
1399:
1305:Uncertain Glory
1212:
1198:St. Louis Blues
1102:Going Hollywood
1017:
875:The Deep Purple
862:
715:
709:
631:
626:
625:
615:
613:
606:
602:
601:
597:
592:
588:
583:
579:
567:
558:
553:
536:
505:
473:live television
455:
438:
430:
379:Margaret Dumont
324:
307:) and Doremus (
266:
223:, and starring
173:
166:
159:
157:
150:
133:
128:
126:
86:
82:
78:
54:
50:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1697:
1687:
1686:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1651:
1646:
1641:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1599:
1598:
1596:
1595:
1587:
1579:
1570:
1568:
1564:
1563:
1561:
1560:
1552:
1544:
1536:
1532:Band of Angels
1528:
1520:
1512:
1504:
1496:
1488:
1480:
1472:
1464:
1456:
1448:
1440:
1432:
1424:
1416:
1407:
1405:
1401:
1400:
1398:
1397:
1389:
1381:
1373:
1365:
1357:
1349:
1341:
1337:The Man I Love
1333:
1325:
1321:Salty O'Rourke
1317:
1309:
1301:
1293:
1285:
1277:
1269:
1261:
1253:
1245:
1237:
1229:
1220:
1218:
1214:
1213:
1211:
1210:
1202:
1194:
1186:
1182:Jump for Glory
1178:
1170:
1162:
1154:
1146:
1142:Big Brown Eyes
1138:
1134:Klondike Annie
1130:
1122:
1114:
1110:Under Pressure
1106:
1098:
1090:
1086:Hello, Sister!
1082:
1074:
1066:
1058:
1050:
1042:
1034:
1025:
1023:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1015:
1007:
999:
991:
983:
979:Sadie Thompson
975:
967:
959:
951:
943:
939:The Lucky Lady
935:
927:
919:
911:
903:
895:
887:
879:
870:
868:
864:
863:
861:
860:
852:
844:
836:
828:
820:
812:
804:
796:
788:
780:
776:The Silent Lie
772:
764:
756:
748:
740:
732:
723:
721:
717:
716:
708:
707:
700:
693:
685:
679:
678:
677:
665:
654:
643:
630:
629:External links
627:
624:
623:
595:
586:
577:
555:
554:
552:
549:
548:
547:
542:
535:
532:
504:
501:
483:Dorothy Malone
454:
451:
437:
434:
429:
426:
425:
424:
418:
412:
409:Truman Bradley
406:
400:
394:
391:Ethel Griffies
388:
382:
376:
370:
367:John Alexander
364:
358:
352:
346:
340:
334:
323:
320:
309:John Alexander
303:named Osidro (
265:
262:
210:
209:
206:
202:
201:
198:
194:
193:
190:
186:
185:
182:
178:
177:
174:
171:
168:
167:
165:
164:
153:
151:
148:
145:
144:
139:
138:Distributed by
135:
134:
131:
129:
124:
121:
120:
115:
111:
110:
105:
101:
100:
95:
94:Cinematography
91:
90:
73:
69:
68:
66:Mark Hellinger
63:
59:
58:
56:Aubrey Wisberg
47:
43:
42:
37:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1696:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1652:
1650:
1647:
1645:
1642:
1640:
1637:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1611:
1609:
1593:
1592:
1588:
1585:
1584:
1580:
1577:
1576:
1572:
1571:
1569:
1565:
1558:
1557:
1553:
1550:
1549:
1545:
1542:
1541:
1537:
1534:
1533:
1529:
1526:
1525:
1521:
1518:
1517:
1513:
1510:
1509:
1505:
1502:
1501:
1497:
1494:
1493:
1489:
1486:
1485:
1481:
1478:
1477:
1473:
1470:
1469:
1465:
1462:
1461:
1457:
1454:
1453:
1449:
1446:
1445:
1441:
1438:
1437:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1428:Distant Drums
1425:
1422:
1421:
1417:
1414:
1413:
1409:
1408:
1406:
1402:
1395:
1394:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1382:
1379:
1378:
1374:
1371:
1370:
1366:
1363:
1362:
1358:
1355:
1354:
1350:
1347:
1346:
1342:
1339:
1338:
1334:
1331:
1330:
1326:
1323:
1322:
1318:
1315:
1314:
1310:
1307:
1306:
1302:
1299:
1298:
1294:
1291:
1290:
1286:
1283:
1282:
1281:Gentleman Jim
1278:
1275:
1274:
1270:
1267:
1266:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1254:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1243:
1242:
1238:
1235:
1234:
1230:
1227:
1226:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1215:
1208:
1207:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1195:
1192:
1191:
1190:College Swing
1187:
1184:
1183:
1179:
1176:
1175:
1171:
1168:
1167:
1163:
1160:
1159:
1155:
1152:
1151:
1147:
1144:
1143:
1139:
1136:
1135:
1131:
1128:
1127:
1123:
1120:
1119:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1099:
1096:
1095:
1091:
1088:
1087:
1083:
1080:
1079:
1078:Sailor's Luck
1075:
1072:
1071:
1070:Me and My Gal
1067:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1051:
1048:
1047:
1043:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1030:The Big Trail
1027:
1026:
1024:
1020:
1013:
1012:
1011:Hot for Paris
1008:
1005:
1004:
1000:
997:
996:
992:
989:
988:
987:The Red Dance
984:
981:
980:
976:
973:
972:
968:
965:
964:
960:
957:
956:
952:
949:
948:
944:
941:
940:
936:
933:
932:
928:
925:
924:
920:
917:
916:
912:
909:
908:
904:
901:
900:
896:
893:
892:
888:
885:
884:
880:
877:
876:
872:
871:
869:
865:
858:
857:
853:
850:
849:
845:
842:
841:
837:
834:
833:
829:
826:
825:
821:
818:
817:
813:
810:
809:
805:
802:
801:
797:
794:
793:
792:The Conqueror
789:
786:
785:
781:
778:
777:
773:
770:
769:
765:
762:
761:
757:
754:
753:
749:
746:
745:
741:
738:
737:
733:
730:
729:
725:
724:
722:
718:
714:
706:
701:
699:
694:
692:
687:
686:
683:
676:
673:
671:
670:
666:
664:
660:
659:
655:
653:
649:
648:
644:
642:
638:
637:
633:
632:
612:
605:
599:
590:
581:
575:
571:
565:
563:
561:
556:
546:
543:
541:
538:
537:
531:
529:
525:
521:
516:
514:
510:
500:
497:
495:
494:Shout Factory
491:
489:
484:
480:
479:
474:
469:
466:
462:
461:
450:
447:
446:New York Post
443:
433:
422:
419:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
395:
392:
389:
386:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
343:Dolores Moran
341:
338:
335:
332:
329:
328:
327:
319:
316:
314:
310:
306:
302:
301:fallen angels
297:
295:
294:Dolores Moran
291:
286:
284:
280:
276:
271:
261:
259:
258:
253:
249:
245:
241:
239:
235:
234:
228:
226:
222:
218:
217:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
184:United States
183:
179:
175:
169:
155:
154:
152:
146:
143:
140:
136:
130:
122:
119:
116:
112:
109:
106:
102:
99:
98:Sidney Hickox
96:
92:
89:
85:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
64:
60:
57:
53:
52:James V. Kern
48:
44:
41:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1589:
1581:
1573:
1554:
1546:
1538:
1530:
1522:
1514:
1508:The Tall Men
1506:
1498:
1492:Saskatchewan
1490:
1482:
1474:
1466:
1458:
1450:
1442:
1434:
1426:
1418:
1410:
1391:
1383:
1375:
1367:
1361:Silver River
1359:
1351:
1343:
1335:
1328:
1327:
1319:
1311:
1303:
1295:
1287:
1279:
1271:
1263:
1255:
1247:
1239:
1231:
1225:Dark Command
1223:
1204:
1196:
1188:
1180:
1172:
1164:
1156:
1148:
1140:
1132:
1124:
1116:
1108:
1100:
1092:
1084:
1076:
1068:
1060:
1052:
1044:
1036:
1028:
1009:
1001:
995:Me, Gangster
993:
985:
977:
969:
961:
953:
945:
937:
931:The Wanderer
929:
923:The Spaniard
921:
915:East of Suez
913:
905:
897:
889:
881:
873:
854:
846:
838:
830:
822:
814:
806:
798:
790:
782:
774:
766:
758:
750:
742:
734:
728:Regeneration
726:
668:
657:
646:
635:
614:. Retrieved
610:
598:
589:
580:
519:
517:
509:Franz Waxman
506:
498:
496:'s website.
486:
476:
470:
465:Claude Rains
460:Ford Theater
458:
456:
445:
442:New York Sun
441:
439:
431:
421:Larry Steers
403:Mike Mazurki
385:Robert Blake
349:Allyn Joslyn
339:as Elizabeth
337:Alexis Smith
325:
317:
313:Mike Mazurki
305:Allyn Joslyn
298:
287:
275:Alexis Smith
267:
255:
243:
242:
237:
231:
229:
215:
214:
213:
172:Running time
149:Release date
142:Warner Bros.
132:Warner Bros.
118:Franz Waxman
84:Allyn Joslyn
80:Alexis Smith
1436:Glory Alley
1241:High Sierra
1150:Spendthrift
840:I'll Say So
816:On the Jump
760:The Serpent
713:Raoul Walsh
397:Paul Harvey
333:as Athanael
221:Raoul Walsh
200:$ 1,831,000
108:Irene Morra
62:Produced by
49:Sam Hellman
40:Raoul Walsh
36:Directed by
1614:1945 films
1608:Categories
1500:Battle Cry
1468:Sea Devils
1393:White Heat
1094:The Bowery
848:Evangeline
616:August 21,
551:References
428:Box office
415:Jack Mower
361:Guy Kibbee
331:Jack Benny
279:Guy Kibbee
225:Jack Benny
205:Box office
176:78 minutes
160:1945-04-20
125:Production
88:Guy Kibbee
76:Jack Benny
46:Written by
1062:Wild Girl
736:Peer Gynt
528:Mel Blanc
436:Reception
208:$ 970,000
104:Edited by
1484:Gun Fury
1353:Cheyenne
1257:Manpower
1174:O.H.M.S.
883:The Oath
784:Betrayed
652:AllMovie
534:See also
513:Overture
257:Carousel
254:musical
189:Language
114:Music by
72:Starring
1345:Pursued
672:at the
661:at the
478:Omnibus
270:trumpet
192:English
181:Country
158: (
127:company
1594:(1964)
1586:(1961)
1578:(1960)
1559:(1959)
1551:(1958)
1543:(1958)
1535:(1957)
1527:(1956)
1519:(1956)
1511:(1955)
1503:(1955)
1495:(1954)
1487:(1953)
1479:(1953)
1471:(1953)
1463:(1953)
1455:(1952)
1447:(1952)
1439:(1952)
1431:(1951)
1423:(1951)
1415:(1951)
1396:(1949)
1388:(1949)
1380:(1948)
1372:(1948)
1364:(1948)
1356:(1947)
1348:(1947)
1340:(1947)
1332:(1945)
1324:(1945)
1316:(1945)
1308:(1944)
1300:(1943)
1292:(1943)
1284:(1942)
1276:(1942)
1268:(1941)
1260:(1941)
1252:(1941)
1244:(1941)
1236:(1940)
1228:(1940)
1209:(1939)
1201:(1939)
1193:(1938)
1185:(1937)
1177:(1937)
1169:(1937)
1161:(1937)
1153:(1936)
1145:(1936)
1137:(1936)
1129:(1935)
1121:(1935)
1113:(1935)
1105:(1933)
1097:(1933)
1089:(1933)
1081:(1933)
1073:(1932)
1065:(1932)
1057:(1931)
1049:(1931)
1041:(1931)
1033:(1930)
1014:(1929)
1006:(1929)
998:(1928)
990:(1928)
982:(1928)
974:(1927)
966:(1927)
958:(1926)
950:(1926)
942:(1926)
934:(1925)
926:(1925)
918:(1925)
910:(1924)
902:(1923)
894:(1922)
886:(1921)
878:(1920)
859:(1919)
851:(1919)
843:(1918)
835:(1918)
827:(1918)
819:(1918)
811:(1917)
803:(1917)
795:(1917)
787:(1917)
779:(1917)
771:(1917)
763:(1916)
755:(1916)
747:(1915)
744:Carmen
739:(1915)
731:(1915)
503:Legacy
197:Budget
1567:1960s
1404:1950s
1217:1940s
1022:1930s
867:1920s
720:1910s
607:(PDF)
641:IMDb
618:2023
440:The
322:Cast
264:Plot
650:at
639:at
570:doi
1610::
609:.
559:^
471:A
285:.
227:.
704:e
697:t
690:v
620:.
572::
162:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.