Fans of Jack Benny's radio show will probably have, at least, heard of this movie. It took on almost mythic qualities in the program as an incredible flop. Of course, Benny's lack of acting talent and the failures (both real and invented) of all of his movies were regular fodder for the gag-writers on his show. I feel it speaks volumes of Benny's character that he found it so easy to laugh at himself.
While it wasn't a great financial success, "Horn" is an amusing enough movie. Benny plays an angel who is sent to Earth to herald the end of the world. The title of the film is a reference to the final trumpet which will sound before the end of the world. Benny is thwarted in his efforts by two AWOL angels who live on Earth and don't want to be forced to give up the pleasures of the flesh.
While there are many flaws with this movie, it is nevertheless enjoyable and I found myself interested in it from beginning to end.
The plot is rather ahead of its time, and strikes a chord with many modern works. When I first read the plot, I thought of the novel "Good Omens" which was, funnily enough, about an angel and a devil who conspire to stop the end of the world, because they have grown fond of life on Earth.
Now, I am going to say something which I imagine many people are going to take issue with: the biggest hindrance to the movie is Jack Benny. I feel that the man was a gifted comedian and a talented performer, but he was a really lousy film actor, I think he needed a live audience. He was so wooden that it really detracted from my enjoyment of the film. Someone like Jimmy Stewart would have been a much better choice for the role -- but they probably didn't have the budget, and the film was made as a Jack Benny vehicle after all.
The bright spot of the movie are the two renegade angels who play their roles quite well and are very funny. They keep things moving at a brisk pace and manage to remain interesting throughout.
I managed to record this movie when it appeared on the late show on Turner Classic Movies. I think its a shame that this, like most Benny films, has not been released on DVD, for while he was not the ideal actor, his movies are almost always worth watching.
While it wasn't a great financial success, "Horn" is an amusing enough movie. Benny plays an angel who is sent to Earth to herald the end of the world. The title of the film is a reference to the final trumpet which will sound before the end of the world. Benny is thwarted in his efforts by two AWOL angels who live on Earth and don't want to be forced to give up the pleasures of the flesh.
While there are many flaws with this movie, it is nevertheless enjoyable and I found myself interested in it from beginning to end.
The plot is rather ahead of its time, and strikes a chord with many modern works. When I first read the plot, I thought of the novel "Good Omens" which was, funnily enough, about an angel and a devil who conspire to stop the end of the world, because they have grown fond of life on Earth.
Now, I am going to say something which I imagine many people are going to take issue with: the biggest hindrance to the movie is Jack Benny. I feel that the man was a gifted comedian and a talented performer, but he was a really lousy film actor, I think he needed a live audience. He was so wooden that it really detracted from my enjoyment of the film. Someone like Jimmy Stewart would have been a much better choice for the role -- but they probably didn't have the budget, and the film was made as a Jack Benny vehicle after all.
The bright spot of the movie are the two renegade angels who play their roles quite well and are very funny. They keep things moving at a brisk pace and manage to remain interesting throughout.
I managed to record this movie when it appeared on the late show on Turner Classic Movies. I think its a shame that this, like most Benny films, has not been released on DVD, for while he was not the ideal actor, his movies are almost always worth watching.