Heaven Can Wait (1943)

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

Director:

Ernst Lubitsch

Writers:

Samson Raphaelson (screenplay), Leslie Bush-Fekete (play) (as Lazlo Bus-Fekete)

Stars:

Gene Tierney, Don Ameche, Charles Coburn

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

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)

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.

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Plot Keywords:

comics | hell | money | hades | birthday | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

13 August 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

El diablo dijo no

Filming Locations:

Stage 3, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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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.

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Quotes

Henry Van Cleve: Mother, when one sees a lovely rose...
Bertha Van Cleve: ...one can be certain she comes from a fine rose bush.

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Connections

Referenced in Hostage (2005)

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Soundtracks

By the Light of the Silvery Moon
(uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Played during the opening credits and often in the score

User Reviews

Not Heavenly, but Worth Waiting For

When Henry Van Cleeve dies, he feels that he only deserves to go to the place downstairs. "His Excellency" tells Henry that hell does not accept any riff-raff and asks what major crime he has committed to gain entry. Henry says that the crime is the way he lived his life, especially the way he treated the women in his life, and more specifically his wife Martha, whose heart he stole from his cousin and had to continually win back on occasions. As Henry tells the story, will the things he has done in his life gain him entrance to eternal damnation. The film doesn't have the smoothness of other Lubitsch films, but the master of the romantic comedy does cast his magic wand giving the film the charm it takes advantage of. Ameche does a good job of underplaying his role by being the charming and suave self that he is in many of his films. Tierney, is also enchanting and beautiful, but seems to be playing off the rest of the cast rather than help herself in that category. Colburn (Grandfather) and Cregar (His Excelleny) are also great in the small roles. Great ending. Rating, 7.