Heaven Can Wait
1943 Comedy / Drama / Fantasy / Romance
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Credits
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Summary
After a life of dissolute pleasure-seeking, Henry Van Cleve considers
he has earned his place in Hell. But when he arrives in the
entrance hall to Satan’s fiery domain, he encounters an imposing figure
who is less certain of his credentials. To convince the
diabolical receptionist that he does indeed deserve eternal damnation,
Henry begins to recount the story of his life. Ever since he was
a boy, he had a fatal attraction for the fair sex. On his 25th
birthday, he eloped with his cousin’s fiancée Martha and for a
while was content with one woman. Although Martha was the most
perfect wife a man could hope for, Henry couldn’t help himself from
straying up the path of temptation, into the arms of younger women...
Review
Not to be confused with the insipid 1978 fantasy-comedy starring Warren
Beatty of the same title, Heaven Can
Wait is a delightful Hollywood classic from the master of the
quick-fire romantic comedy, Ernst Lubitsch. The film, which is as
much a social satire as a rom-com, was based on the play Birthdays by the Hungarian
playwright Leslie Bush-Fekete, adapted by Lubitsch’s frequent
collaborator, Samson Raphaelson. The appealing colour photography and lavish set design make this Lubitsch’s most visually rewarding film, bringing a sumptuous elegance which matches Lubitsch's faultless direction whilst heightening the pleasure that comes from the crackling dialogue and thoroughly engaging performances from lead actors Gene Tierney and Don Ameche. The supporting cast also give great entertainment value, particularly Eugene Pallette and Marjorie Main playing Mr and Mrs Strable, whose marriage has deteriorated to the point where they can only communicate via their Negro servant. The unflagging humour is delicately balanced by some moments of genuine poignancy which effectively carry the film’s moral about the inconsequentiality of minor indiscretions when set against the splendour and permanence of true love. © James Travers 2008 
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