The Angel Levine is a 1970 drama film directed by Ján Kádar, adapted by Bill Gunn and Ronald Ribman from a story by Bernard Malamud.
Morris Mishkin (Zero Mostel) is a poor Jewish tailor living in New York City who has suffered a long series of misfortunes. His shop burned down, chronic back problems prevent him from working for anyone else, his daughter Ruth has married an Italian, his wife Fanny (Ida Kaminska) has for the last two years suffered from heart and lung problems that leave her bedridden, and the welfare department refuses to help them out. One day Morris walks into his kitchen and finds a black Jew named Alexander Levine (Harry Belafonte), who claims to be an angel on probation. Levine says that he has 24 hours to perform a miracle in order to become a full angel, but Morris, who feels that God has abandoned him, is skeptical.
The Angel Levine contains examples of:
- Angelic Transformation: Levine was hit by a car while running away after shoplifting a few hours before he appears in Morris's apartment.
- Career-Ending Injury: Morris's back problems are the result of an unspecified injury.
- Clap Your Hands If You Believe: Levine says that in order for him to perform a miracle, Morris must have faith in him. Morris says that he won't have faith until Levine performs a miracle. Fanny's health does seem to improve dramatically whenever Levine is around and decline again when he's gone, but that's not enough for Morris, who wants something more obvious.
- Dead Person Conversation: Levine talks first on the phone and later in person with his girlfriend Sally Turner (Gloria Foster), who doesn't know he's dead, in order to tell her he loves her, but their conversations devolve into fights. She finally leaves after he gives her a Bitch Slap.
- Desk Sweep of Rage: Morris gets in a shouting match with Fanny, who sweeps the medicine bottles off the tray on her bedside table.
- I Have No Son!: Ever since Ruth got married, Morris has refused to accept her as his daughter.
- Only the Knowledgable May Pass: Morris asks Levine to prove he's Jewish by reciting a Hebrew table blessing, which he does easily.
- Rage Against the Heavens: Morris yells at Levine, "I will go to my grave cursing God for what He's done to me! I will never forgive Him for what He's done to me! When we die, we die! I will never forgive Him! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!" Levine begs him to stop, but it's too late. Morris's lack of belief destroys Levine's chances of becoming a full angel and causes Fanny to sicken again, leading to the Downer Ending.
- Special Thanks: "Our special thanks to" followed by a long list of names, followed by "who, with the help of the Ford Foundation, helped initiate the first apprentice program for minorities in the American film industry."
