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)
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Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Gene Tierney | ... | Martha Strabel Van Cleve | |
| Don Ameche | ... | Henry Van Cleve | |
| Charles Coburn | ... | Hugo Van Cleve | |
| Marjorie Main | ... | Mrs. Strabel | |
| Laird Cregar | ... | His Excellency | |
| Spring Byington | ... | Bertha Van Cleve | |
| Allyn Joslyn | ... | Albert Van Cleve | |
| Eugene Pallette | ... | E.F. Strabel | |
| Signe Hasso | ... | Mademoiselle | |
| Louis Calhern | ... | Randolph Van Cleve | |
| Helene Reynolds | ... | Peggy Nash | |
| Aubrey Mather | ... | James | |
| Tod Andrews | ... | Jack Van Cleve (as Michael Ames) | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (210) »
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 Keywords:
comics | water poured over someone's head | hades the underworld | reference to muhammad | hell |Taglines:
He believed in Love . . . Honor . . . and Obey - That Impulse! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
13 August 1943 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Heaven Can Wait See more »Filming Locations:
Stage 3, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
(uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Ernst Lubitsch migrated to 20th Century Fox partly out of frustration at being unable to get his pet projects "A Self-Made Cinderella" and "Margin for Error' made at his home for 20 years, Paramount. He and writing partner Samson Raphaelson hit upon the idea of adapting Leslie Bush-Fekete's 1934 play "Birthdays" for the screen. It was a subject close to Lubitsch's heart as he was undergoing a divorce at the time. See more »Goofs
At Henry's birthday party on October 26, 1898, Albert says he and Martha rode the elevators of the Flatiron Building that day. The Flatiron Building opened in 1902. See more »Soundtracks
By the Light of the Silvery Moon(uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
See more »
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Utterly perfect Fox picture with handsome Don Ameche and stunningly beautiful Gene Tierney. It also stars the wonderfully hilarious Charles Coburn as Ameche's grandfather.
A well written, well acted and well directed film that is unjustly underrated and should be rediscovered. The entire film is shot in gorgeous full Technicolor and handled by director Ernst Lubitsch capable hands.
It details the story of a man, played by Ameche, who thinks that he deserves to go to hell after he dies. He then proceeds to recount his life story to the devil (Laird Creger). A true delight that is not to be missed.