Heaven Can Wait (1943)

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Samson Raphaelson (screenplay)
Leslie Bush-Fekete (play)

Release Date:

11 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

He believed in Love . . . Honor . . . and Obey - That Impulse!

Plot:

An old roué arrives in Hades to review his life with Satan, who will rule on his eligibility to enter the Underworld.

Plot Keywords:

Hell | Satan | Marriage | Hades | Philandering

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Gene Tierney	...	Martha
Don Ameche	...	Henry Van Cleve
Charles Coburn	...	Hugo Van Cleve
Marjorie Main	...	Mrs. Strable
Laird Cregar	...	His Excellency
Spring Byington	...	Bertha Van Cleve
Allyn Joslyn	...	Albert Van Cleve
Eugene Pallette	...	E.F. Strable
Signe Hasso	...	Mademoiselle
Louis Calhern	...	Randolph Van Cleve
Helene Reynolds	...	Peggy Nash
Aubrey Mather	...	James
Tod Andrews	...	Jack Van Cleve (as Michael Ames)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (re-rating) (2005) | USA:Approved (certificate #9073) | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Sweden:15

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Gene Tierney discovered she was pregnant during the filming of this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the breakfast scene just before Martha (Tierney) comes home to her parents Mr. Strabelle is served a large second helping of pancakes. Moments late when the camera gives him a medium shot, the stack is gone and the butler refills his plate.

Quotes:

Hugo Van Cleve: Albert, I'm struggling successfully against the gout. I'm waging a terrific battle with my liver. And I'm holding my own against asthma, but I doubt strength enough to survive your jokes. You're a successful lawyer. Let it go at that. I love you, Albert.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

The Fountain in the Park

Exquisite Lubitsch's work

"Heaven Can Wait" lies among Ernst Lubitsch's best movies, and that's largely enough to ensure that it is a masterpiece.

It is the exquisite story of the women-devoted life of a never-repenting Casanova, from childhood through old age, death, and even after-death. We find Lubitsch's trade-mark elegant sense of humor, perfect timing, sharp intelligence. There is also a rather deep, though cheerful, representation of common, typical sides (faults, to say better) of a male character: shallow sentiments, selfish approach to a woman's true love, childish refuse to accept years passing.

The stars Don Ameche, Gene Tierney, Charles Coburn make a superb work. However, a main credit of the film is the cast of incredibly nice actors (willingly?) gathered by the director. The Devil himself (Laird Cregar) is likeable, with his perfect manners and friendly approach! We are unable to dislike even those shrewish old rich women, who pop out along the movie. It's impossible to give the deserved credit to all those wonderfully talented supporting actors. Let me mention the delightful butler Jasper (Clarence Muse), with his role of ambassador between Mr. and Mrs. Strabel.

To be personal, I'm very fond of "Heaven Can Wait", since it was my first encounter with Gene Tierney. When she appeared on the screen I couldn't believe my eyes: "Who, who, who is this girl? I'm dreaming or what? Does this girl actually exist?" Honestly, I felt dizzy for the remainder of the movie.

Only after repeated views of "Heaven Can Wait" I was able to distract my eyes from Gene, and fully appreciate the great merits of this magnificent, highly-recommended Lubitsch's masterpiece.