I saw this movie when it debuted back in 1969. However, my recollection of it is very limited since I was only 5 at the time. Now when I see it, my experience is quite a bit different because I didn't remember so much singing when I was young. Now the film seems to have too many songs--songs used for EVERYTHING! Additionally, while Johnny Whitaker was an incredibly talented boy, listening to any boy singing again and again can be tough to take--especially when the songs are not stellar and are mostly about mundane things--things normal folks would never sing about (such as a love of green or his love of a box). Times were different, that's for sure.
Despite the story is about Heaven, angels and God, it's not really a religious film. None of these would really correspond to teachings of any religion but are more like traditions that have oddly evolved over the years. In this case, when people die they become angels and hang out in a super-boring place out in space. Again, I know that the Bible, Torah, Koran and other teachings DON'T indicate that's our future (thank goodness). But the story is about a little boy (Johnny Whitaker) who dies and goes to Heaven--where he finds it boring and stupid. Also, oddly, there are no other child-angels--and considering all the plagues and the like, there should be millions or billions. But, instead of hooking him up with a child angel, they assign the boy-angel to be chaperoned by a dopey angel, Patience (Fred Gwynn). Patience shows him about Heaven where folks flit about and sing A LOT. Not surprisingly, the kid misses the Earth and his family. What's to become of this little malcontent? Watch the film--provided you can keep yourself from turning off the movie! I don't know how I managed it!! This is a sappy song-fest that you'll either love or despise. Guess which group I fall into?! Now I know I may sound like a crotchety old man. Well, that might be true but at least I am not the sort of guy who says things were always better in the 'good old days'! No, in many ways things are better today--as this film is NOT the sort of family entertainment you'd see in the 21st century (thank goodness). Plus, this sort of view of the afterlife is enough to scare children, that's for sure!! After all, the place is dreadfully dull and filled with singing jerks!
Despite the story is about Heaven, angels and God, it's not really a religious film. None of these would really correspond to teachings of any religion but are more like traditions that have oddly evolved over the years. In this case, when people die they become angels and hang out in a super-boring place out in space. Again, I know that the Bible, Torah, Koran and other teachings DON'T indicate that's our future (thank goodness). But the story is about a little boy (Johnny Whitaker) who dies and goes to Heaven--where he finds it boring and stupid. Also, oddly, there are no other child-angels--and considering all the plagues and the like, there should be millions or billions. But, instead of hooking him up with a child angel, they assign the boy-angel to be chaperoned by a dopey angel, Patience (Fred Gwynn). Patience shows him about Heaven where folks flit about and sing A LOT. Not surprisingly, the kid misses the Earth and his family. What's to become of this little malcontent? Watch the film--provided you can keep yourself from turning off the movie! I don't know how I managed it!! This is a sappy song-fest that you'll either love or despise. Guess which group I fall into?! Now I know I may sound like a crotchety old man. Well, that might be true but at least I am not the sort of guy who says things were always better in the 'good old days'! No, in many ways things are better today--as this film is NOT the sort of family entertainment you'd see in the 21st century (thank goodness). Plus, this sort of view of the afterlife is enough to scare children, that's for sure!! After all, the place is dreadfully dull and filled with singing jerks!