Heaven Can Wait (1943 film)
| Heaven Can Wait | |
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theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Ernst Lubitsch |
| Produced by | Ernst Lubitsch |
| Written by | Leslie Bush-Fekete |
| Screenplay by | Samson Raphaelson |
| Based on |
Birthday/Születésnap 1934 play by Leslie Bush-Fekete |
| Starring |
Gene Tierney Don Ameche Charles Coburn |
| Narrated by | Don Ameche |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Edward Cronjager |
| Edited by | Dorothy Spencer |
| Distributed by |
20th Century Fox (theatrical) The Criterion Collection (DVD) |
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Release date
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Running time
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112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,115,000 |
| Box office | $2.5 million (rentals) or $2.8 million (US rentals) |
Heaven Can Wait is a 1943 Technicolor American comedy film produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The screenplay was by Samson Raphaelson based on the play Birthday by Leslie Bush-Fekete. The music score was by Alfred Newman and the cinematography by Edward Cronjager.
The film tells the story of a man who has to prove he belongs in Hell by telling his life story. It stars Gene Tierney, Don Ameche and Charles Coburn. The supporting cast includes Marjorie Main, Laird Cregar, Spring Byington, Allyn Joslyn, Eugene Pallette, Signe Hasso, Louis Calhern, Tod Andrews, and Clara Blandick.
An aged Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche) enters the opulent reception area of Hell, to be personally greeted by "His Excellency" (Laird Cregar). Henry petitions to be admitted (fully aware of the kind of life he had led), but there is some doubt as to his qualifications. To prove his worthiness (or rather unworthiness), he begins to tell the story of his dissolute life.
Born in Manhattan on October 25, 1872, Henry is the spoiled only child of stuffy, clueless, wealthy parents Randolph (Louis Calhern) and Bertha (Spring Byington). His paternal grandmother (Clara Blandick in an uncredited role) is also doting and naive, although his down-to-earth grandfather Hugo Van Cleve (Charles Coburn), a self-made millionaire, understands Henry quite well. Henry grows up an idle young man, with a taste for attractive showgirls. One day, Henry overhears a beautiful woman lying to her mother on a public telephone. Intrigued, he follows her into a Brentano's and pretends to be an employee to get to know her better. Despite learning that she is engaged, he begins making advances, finally confessing he does not work there, whereupon she hastily departs.
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Wikipedia