Product Description

In WE’RE NO ANGLES, three convicts escape from Devil's Island and arrive at a nearby French colonial town. Their plan to steal supplies and clothing from the local store is ruined after they take a liking to the store’s owner, especially his attractive daughter.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2071 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2005-09-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 105 minutes

Amazon.com
Audiences have always loved the spectacle of tough guys going soft and gooey, and We're No Angels adds the extra sweetener of Yuletide to its mix. The action takes place on Devil's Island, the tropical backwater where the notorious French prison was located. Three convicts, played by Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Ray, and Peter Ustinov, have escaped, and wait only for a ship to leave the next day. In the meantime, they become involved in the financial woes of an island shopkeeper (Leo G. Carroll) and his wife (Joan Bennett) and daughter, whose business is in danger from a rich, nasty relative (Basil Rathbone). Despite the threat of black comedy, especially in the form of a poisonous viper (which Ray carries around in a demure bamboo case), broad cuteness tends to rule the day. While it's not on the list of essential Bogart performances, Bogie does seem to be enjoying himself, and the puckish Ustinov savors his lines like a cow chewing grass. The stage origins of the scenario are all too obvious, and probably contribute to the pokey pacing (Michael Curtiz, who guided Bogart in Casablanca, was perhaps not the ideal choice for this kind of winsome comedy). This 1955 film looks good in comparison to the loose, labored 1989 remake with Robert De Niro and Sean Penn. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

This is MY Christmas Movie
Every year around the holidays, I sit down with a cup of coffee, wrap an afghan around myself and fall under the spell of this film yet again. It's the story of three convicts trying to escape Devil's Island at Christmas. And in spite of their best (or worst)intentions to do in a struggling shopkeeper and his family and steal all their money, they end up celebrating the holidays as part of the family.

The casting is unexpected but quite wonderful, with tough guys Humphrey Bogart and Aldo Ray showing their comic sides. Peter Ustinov rounds out the trio of crooks and murderers nicely, with his dry, self-effacing delivery. Leo G. Carroll, Joan Bennett and Basil Rathbone all turn in wonderful performances on the law-abiding side of things.

We're No Angels is a film that never drifts into sappiness or sentimentality. There's always a little edge to the comedy, a little darkness underlying the light, and that makes for delicious viewing. It's a very human and humane comedy for people who don't want their holiday spoiled by too much sugar. One caveat: Do NOT mistake the remake for this film. They're not the same by any stretch.

THE funniest Christmas Movie ever made !
Anytime I visit my local Video store around the Christmas Season,I have to remind the Manager,that besides " Miracle on 34 th. Street " and the usual array of "feel good" movies for the holidays,this one is never on the shelf with the others..but it should be ! The combination of Bogart,Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray is perfect.Every cliche,like " poisonous snakes always get the bad guy,the good guy can pick it up with his bare hands "...has been met head on,and they work well.All the characters are endearing and the end is wonderful,I see it every Christmas along with " The Bishophs Wife ".Who would not want to sit and have 90 minutes with Bogie & Co. ? Not me !!!!

TH Robison
Apparently this is one of the few comedies that Bogart made, which is too bad as I think he did a great job in it. This is the only movie I've seen Aldo Ray in, I did see "Green Berets" but I do not remember him in it and am not expecting to watch that one again any time soon. My favorite character is Peter Ustinov's. The dialogue for the whole film is none but complete joy to watch. This movie is such an understated comedy yet so extremely funny, it is important that you pay attention or you'll miss it. It certainly deserves the rank of a classic as it's as good watching it the tenth time as it is the first.

I saw this movie some years ago, by chance, on AMC and was amazed and frustrated that I had never seen it before. I have rented it on VHS as often as I could and have been waiting for it to come out on DVD so that I could buy it.