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Heaven Can Wait (1943)

 -  Comedy | Drama | Fantasy  -  11 August 1943 (USA)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 4,940 users  
Reviews: 49 user | 27 critic

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

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Title: Heaven Can Wait (1943)

Heaven Can Wait (1943) on IMDb 7.5/10

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Nominated for 3 Oscars. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
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...
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Marjorie Main ...
Laird Cregar ...
...
Allyn Joslyn ...
...
Signe Hasso ...
...
Helene Reynolds ...
Peggy Nash
Aubrey Mather ...
James
Tod Andrews ...
Jack Van Cleve (as Michael Ames)
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Storyline

Henry Van Cleve presents himself at the gates of Hell only to find he is closely vetted on his qualifications for entry. Surprised there is any question on his suitability, he recounts his lively life and the women he has known from his mother onwards, but mainly concentrating on his happy but sometimes difficult twenty-five years of marriage to Martha. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

hell | marriage | hades | jealousy | birthday | See more »

Taglines:

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


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

11 August 1943 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El diablo dijo no  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Recording)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Ernst Lubitsch's only completed film in Technicolor. See more »

Goofs

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

Quotes

Peggy Nash: And now you're a kind of a, mm... retired Casanova. You know it's always the same with men when they retire, some grow flowers and, uh... some grow a tummy.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Up (2009) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Sheik of Araby"
(uncredited)
Music by Ted Snyder
Lyrics by Harry B. Smith and Francis Wheeler
Performed on-stage at the Follies
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User Reviews

 
Exquisite Lubitsch's work
11 January 2001 | by (Padova, Italy) – See all my reviews

"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.


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