Heavens Above! (1963)

A minister is accidentally appointed to a snobbish parish.

Directors:

John Boulting, Roy Boulting

Writers:

John Boulting (screenplay), John Boulting (story),

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Cecil Parker, Isabel Jeans

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Sellers	...	The Rev. John Smallwood
Cecil Parker	...	Archdeacon Aspinall
Isabel Jeans	...	Lady Despard
Ian Carmichael	...	The Other Smallwood
Bernard Miles	...	Simpson
Brock Peters	...	Matthew Robinson
Eric Sykes	...	Harry Smith
Irene Handl	...	Rene Smith
Miriam Karlin	...	Winnie Smith
Joan Miller	...	Mrs. Smith-Gould
Miles Malleson	...	Rockeby
Eric Barker	...	Bank Manager
William Hartnell	...	Major Fowler
Roy Kinnear	...	Fred Smith
Joan Hickson	...	Housewife

Storyline

A minister is accidentally appointed to a snobbish parish.

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Plot Keywords:

anglican | vicar | salvation army | gypsy | riot | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 November 1963 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

For himlens skyld

Filming Locations:

Claremont House, Esher, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charter Film Productions, Romulus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to film historian Robert Osborne, Sellers portrayal of Rev. Smallwood was based on (and is a "dead-on" impression of) one of his teachers - Brother Cornelius - in Catholic school.

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Goofs

The hand sound of the organ heard at Rev Smallwood's church is too loud and rich for the small, hand-pumped console we see.

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Quotes

Simpson: Anytime you hear someone quoting from the bible - better watch out - it's probably the devil himself!

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Connections

Referenced in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)

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Soundtracks

"From Here To Eternity"
(uncredited)
Written by Fred Karger and Robert Wells

User Reviews

Class British Comedy

This is one of the classic British comedies of the 1960's Peter Sellers is superb as the Rev Smallwood a socialist priest mistakenly sent to an upper-crust English village. Eric Sykes and Cecil Parker excel in their roles, Sykes as the lay about, work dodging Smith and Parker as the holier than thou archdeacon. Irene Handle and Ian Carmicheal also make appearances in this film in their typical roles played to perfection.

This film is a satire (with elements of farce) on British society particularly the class system as well as religions role in it. The character are typically English and all show their true nature as the Rev Smallwood bumbles his way into a media frenzy without really knowing it.

All in all if you like British comedy this film is a must see but if you haven't lived in the U.K some of the lines and issues may be lost on you.

A classic up there with the likes of The Ladykillers and Lavender Hill Mob as the cream of British Comedy. 8/10