"The Cockeyed Miracle" is a wonderful, humorous comedy about family, friendship, death, and temptation for greed. It's a simple plot, with fantasy built around two souls - a father and older son who meet after the latter's death. Sam doesn't want to go off into eternity just yet - until he sees his family are taken care of. The nest egg, from his investment with his best friend, Tom, is about to hatch, but Tom is tempted to keep it all for himself. Son Jimmy and daughter Jennifer each have a big event just around the corner. How can Sam go off to bliss and joy with his father, Ben, who came to escort him up - until this is all squared away?
The setting is a small New England fishing village. Except for the opening scene of the village docks and a later horse and buggy and barn scene in a rainstorm, most of the story takes place in the Griggs home. The plot is based on a play, and it's easy to see how it would have been staged, but the film doesn't have a stagy feel to it. This film has some superb technical work in the filming of Sam and Ben walking through walls and windows and ascending through a ceiling into an upper room.
The cast are all excellent, with some very prominent senior actors of the day and other well-known supporting players. Frank Morgan is Sam Griggs, Cecil Kellaway is Tom Carter, Gladys Cooper is Sam's wife, Amy; and Leon Ames is her brother Ralph Humphrey. Keenan Wynn plays Sam's father in the afterlife, Ben Griggs. Marshall Thompson plays Sam's son, Jimmy, and Audrey Totter plays the daughter, Jennifer.
What makes this a superb comedy is the screenplay and a script with witty exchanges and some very funny dialog. It's a feel-good film that people young and old should be able to enjoy well into the future.
Here are some favorite lines from this very good movie.
Amy Griggs, "Just the same, we've got to do what the doctor says." Sam Griggs, "The only time you do what he says is when I'm sick."
Sam Griggs, "Oh, I'm sorry, Amy. I know I'm not a good patient." Amy Griggs, "That's because it takes practice to be, and you've never been sick before." Sam, "You always find excuses for me." Amy, "Nonsense!"
Amy, "My, it adds up. Four thousand seems too much when you borrow it, and so little when you spend it."
