Bernard Malamud seldom saw his works faithfully transferred to the screen (take a look at The Natural sometime), but he issued no complaints over the cinemazation of his The Angel Levine. Zero Mostel plays an elderly Jew whose life experiences have left him an embittered agnostic. Into Mostel's life floats Alexander Levine (Harry Belafonte), who must convince the old man that life has value, else he'll never earn his wings. The novelty of a black Jewish angel has lost some of its "shock" value over the years, allowing modern audiences to cherish the storyline for its own merits. The Angel Levine was lovingly adapted for the screen by Bill Gunn and Ronald Ribman.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide