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IMDbPro

Gates of Heaven

  • 19781978
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
Gates of Heaven (1978)
  • Documentary
A documentary about a pet cemetery in California, and the people who have pets buried there.A documentary about a pet cemetery in California, and the people who have pets buried there.A documentary about a pet cemetery in California, and the people who have pets buried there.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Errol Morris
  • Stars
    • Lucille Billingsley
    • Zella Graham
    • Cal Harberts
Top credits
  • Director
    • Errol Morris
  • Stars
    • Lucille Billingsley
    • Zella Graham
    • Cal Harberts
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos2

    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 10
    Video 29:08
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 10
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 37
    Video 28:48
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 37

    Photos18

    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)
    Gates of Heaven (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lucille Billingsley
    • Self
    Zella Graham
    • Self
    Cal Harberts
    • Self
    Dan Harberts
    • Self
    Phil Harberts
    • Self
    Scottie Harberts
    • Self
    Mike Koewler
    • Self
    Floyd McClure
    • Self
    Ed Quye
    • Self
    Florence Rasmussen
    • Self
    • Director
      • Errol Morris
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      German film director Werner Herzog had made a bet with fledgling director (and current film student) Errol Morris that if Morris made a film about pet cemeteries, Herzog would eat his shoe. Morris went on to make this film, so Herzog kept his promise. The meal is documented in the film Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980).
    • Quotes

      Mourning pet owner: There's your dog; your dog's dead. But where's the thing that made it move? It had to be something, didn't it?

    • Connections
      Featured in Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe (1980)

    User reviews30

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    An all-time favorite. A quirky, poignant, and sometimes hilarious look at man's relationship with his pets.
    I first saw this movie in a college theater in its initial release. The movie poster claimed it was "Not quite a movie about pet cemeteries." I didn't know what to expect, but I have always liked the offbeat. This movie, which even Roger Ebert calls one of his all-time favorites, turned out to be offbeat and much, much more.

    Without poking fun at his subjects, Morris exposes us to the world of pet cemeteries--both the owners and caretakers of them and the people who've placed the remains of a cherished pet in their care. Sometimes we are moved by empathy; other times we laugh out loud at the preposterousness of it. (Are they for real?) At no time does Morris pass judgment. He leaves that up to us.

    Along the way we meet the owner of a rendering service, and learn what happens when the circus comes to town. We learn that "God" is "dog" spelled backwards, and we meet an aspiring musician. Morris captures on film the things that make us human: grief, love, self-importance, and an unabashed silliness. The result is a quirky, poignant, and sometimes hilarious look at man's relationship with his pets.
    helpful•14
    6
    • jlancaster-1
    • Aug 1, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Врата небес
    • Filming locations
      • Bubbling Well Pet Memorial Park, Petaluma, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Gates of Heaven
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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