Heaven Can Wait (1943)

You won't be disappointed!

Too much of everything

The Age of Commercialism

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Thankfully, nothing to do with the awful 80's movie with the same name, starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. This is one of the finest comedies, criminally overlooked. A young Don Ameche and the beautiful Gene Tierney are both fabulous in the lead roles, in fact, they're one of the finest screen couples in film history. In an overall good cast, Charles Coburn and Eugene Palette, both great (comedy-)actors of their time (sadly, overlooked too), stand out particularly. Like many other Lubitsch-comedies, the clever plot and witty dialogue, are well ahead of its time. Trivia: The screenplay was based on the play 'Birthday' by Leslie Bush- Fekete.

Heaven can wait is a fine film in the Lubitsch canon, and is actually a very high quality melodrama masked by a very witty script. It's is the story of Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche) who wants to persuade Satan (Laird Cregar, who is superlatively smooth in the role) to let him go to Hell. On the surface his conduct, during times in his life, might qualify for it, and yet as the story is revealed, this is far from the whole story. He is shown, flaws and all, to be a basically decent guy, whose main 'sin' might be to enjoy life a little to much. He is remorseful about his turbulent relationship with Martha(Gene Tierney) and falling in love with a nurse after she dies. Yet this relationship is contrasted with the relationship Martha would most likely have had, if she had married the coldest of cold fish, his cousin Albert. So despite the marriage of Martha and Henry Van Cleve having its ups and downs, it is shown to be full of life and love. The other Marriages in the film are shown to be straight-laced and at times stullifyingly so, especially the Strable's Marriage. They are the parents of Martha, and are on practically non-existent speaking terms. This difficult material might not seem to fit in with a wry script, but Lubistch's direction makes the change in tone, when required, seem natural and unforced. There are very dark moments in the film. The death of Martha, and Henry Van Cleve(chillingly) paying his son's girlfriend not to see his son anymore, are perhaps the darkest. Those scenes are handled with a very deft touch however, showing the subtlety and skill of Lubitsch in dealing with both the comic and the bleak.There are unintentionally disturbing scenes when you notice all the servants in the Strable's household, are probably chosen by the director because they are black. One female servant is a particularly controversial racial stereotype. These elements are not I think designed to be any more racist than the mores of the time, would have accepted as normal. Yet they do make for uncomfortable viewing and it would I think be wrong not to mention those scenes do exist.The film aside from those misgivings is a film which surprisingly for a great film doesn't have all that much great acting in it. There are two notable exceptions. The first and already stated above, the relatively minor role of Lairg Cregar as Satan. The second is Henry's uncle(Hugo)played by Charles Colborn who has the wittiest lines, and delivers them all pretty much faultlessly. The leads are good enough, yet Gene Tierney strangely lacks charisma in the role of Martha. A year later for instance in the film Laura she is nothing but charisma and chic. She, however, doesn't seem entirely at ease in the Martha role; although not enough to detract from the film as a whole.The film does on the plus-side benefit from what seems paradoxical; the aged and faded lushness of its colours. This creates a nostalgic atmosphere when watching the film which I think adds something of an extra quality to the film.There are as I have said small flaws in the film, meaning it may not be quite as fondly remembered by some as Gone with the wind, Casablanca or Wizard of Oz. It is however not far behind those illustrious films in overall quality. A very good couple of hour's entertainment.

I was in my teens when I first saw this film film and it as stayed with me ever since,Don Ameche is brilliant as the leading man and Gene Tieney,as the leading lady is so magical,from start to finish it grips you,make you smile from the moment Ameche steps out of this lift,to tell his life to the Lord Satan to the moment he finish's his story,I would urge any one to see it if they haven't before,and I challenge,you not to be drawn in,the beautiful way this film was made,I'm surprised that no modern director as tried to remake it ,but if they did it would be big task,to even come level,to this masterpiece.Don Ameche was one of the best Actors of our time.

From Oscar nominated director Ernst Lubitsch (To Be or Not to Be), I spotted this film because it starred the actor who voiced Chance in Homeward Bound, it sounded good, and it was rated well by the critics, so I was up for it. Basically recently deceased and aged playboy Henry Van Cleve (Cocoon's Don Ameche) has entered the reception area of Hell, and is meeting His Excellency - The Devil (Laird Cregar) to see if he qualifies entering into eternal damnation or into Heaven. So in flashback we see his story that he tells to prove his worthiness, going back to Manhattan in the 19th Century, where Henry grew up as a spoilt and naive child, living with rich parents Randolph (Louis Calhern) and Bertha Van Cleve (Spring Byington), as well as his Grandmother (Clara Blandick) and grandfather Hugo (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' Charles Coburn). Henry becomes a man with an appetite for beautiful showgirls, and he one day overhears the voice of and follows a woman who he finds very beautiful and wants to get to know better, Martha (Gene Tierney). He does find out she is engaged, but he persists in flirting with her, and later when his irritating cousin Albert (Allyn Joslyn) introduces his new fiancée, he is surprised to find out it is her again, but she is only marrying him because she was scared of remaining a spinster in Kansas City. Henry convinces Martha that she does not truly love Albert and that she should marry him instead, everybody apart from supportive granddad Hugo is shocked by the revelation, but eventually they are accepted. They have a son together and remain happy for ten years, but it is on this anniversary that Martha finds out that her husband has been messing about with another woman, so she goes back to her parents, but he and Hugo follow her home and he begs her forgiveness and suggests remarrying. So after this they remain happy together for the rest of their lives, until Martha tragically passes away shortly after their twentieth wedding anniversary party, while Henry remains a few more years and dies in the care of a nurse. After hearing the whole story by Henry there does not seem to be any real evidence that he was ever really bad, His Excellency denies him entry and suggests he should go to the "other place", upstairs, where Martha will be waiting for him. Also starring Marjorie Main as Mrs. Strable and Signe Hasso as Mademoiselle. Ameche gives a likable performance as the charming and not sure about himself man, and Tierney is also really good as his loving and beautiful wife, the going to Heaven or Hell concept is interesting, the romantic love story element is nicely done, and with the help of bright colour and good scripting the film is very charmingly, warm and honest, a most watchable classic fantasy comedy. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Picture. Very good!