Heaven Can Wait: Gene Tierney, Don Ameche, Charles Coburn, Marjorie Main, Laird Cregar, Spring Byington, Allyn Joslyn, Eugene Pallette, Signe Hasso, Louis Calhern, Helene Reynolds, Aubrey Mather, Edward Cronjager, Ernst Lubitsch, Dorothy Spencer, Leslie Bush-Fekete, Samson Raphaelson: Amazon.ca: Video

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Don Ameche, silver haired and aged to classy elegance, tries to explain to the Devil (a deliciously underplayed Laird Cregar) why he should spend the afterlife down below. "Have you committed any major crimes?" he's asked. "No, but you might say my life has been one long misdemeanor," he replies. He then proceeds to tell his life story: romantic misadventure, infidelities, and the one true love of his life, his faithful wife, played by porcelain beauty Gene Tierney. Ernst Lubitsch's first film in color is a gorgeous evocation of America through three generations and a charming if meandering romantic comedy. Ameche is a fine performer but a limited actor, never capturing that knowing glance or the lively spark of Maurice Chevalier, while Tierney's charm carries her through her role. Cregar (in his brief scenes) and Charles Coburn, who plays Ameche's spunky grandfather, all but steal their scenes with puckish performances. Next to the colorful but vapid 20th Century Fox musicals and romantic comedies, this is a stylish breath of fresh air, but it hardly ranks with such masterpieces as The Shop Around the Corner or To Be or Not to Be. Still, Lubitsch in decline is better than many directors at their best, and Heaven Can Wait remains an amiable, often hilarious lark in exquisite Technicolor. --Sean Axmaker

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars FORTIES LUBITSCH, May 16 2000

By

"scotsladdie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heaven Can Wait (VHS Tape)

I finally viewed this film after meaning to for years and I was a little disappointed. I felt that it contained passable but uninspired performances from the leads, and the Technicolor itself seemed gaudy. The supporting cast seemed more effective with Laird Cregar as Lucifer himself (he was great) plus the hilarious Marjorie Main and gruff Eugene Pallette as Gene's parents. I think that it was my subconscious comparing this work with the Lubitsch gems of the thirties. By 1943, his touch seemed a little outdated, therefore this little flick was just a tad disappointing (to me anyway).

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3.0 out of 5 stars Lubitch's film makes adultery acceptable and even cute!, July 1 1999

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taxi8C40@aol.com opr Marty (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heaven Can Wait (VHS Tape)

Heaven Can Wait can be viewed as the director's attempt to introduce a "Lubitch touch" of sophisticated European sexual morality and attitude into the uptight moral structure that ruled Hollywood films in the 1940s. Lubitch came from a world where sexual relationships were based on "laisons dangereux," games, and loose sensual connections which evoke the court romances of Versailles in the reign of Louis IV. Armed with this attitude, Lubitch took on this film with a passion because here was material that was truly his cup of tea--a handsome, sophisticated gentleman who can't say No to the ladies from his earliest teenage years to his old age. In fact, Henry van Cleve is clearly a philanderer, a womanizer and a cheat! His wife realizes this early in their marriage and wants a divorce, but is convinced by her sweet-talking husband to "stand by her man." In fact Mrs. van Cleve is well aware of his habits and accepts them with a quiet and chuckling acceptance--and continues to do so until she dies conveniently off-stage. Strangely, she feels that her husband is finally hers when she notices he has a "little tummy." Of course, Mr. V continues his lecherous ways until the very moment of his demise which the audience is led to believe was brought on by the pretty blonde nurse who enters his sick room. Lubitch's moral position is strange indeed for a 40s Hollywood film. Through the character of the Excellency, he literally excuses or absolves the husband from his marital vow to stay true to his wife. He accomplishes this by having the husband continually announce his undying love for his spouse--and having the wife believe it!.

Viewed from one angle, Lubitch seems to be saying that in the end it is the love of husband and wife that really counts. But I see it rather as Lubitch's sophisticated European approach to sex where "Love (all Love) Conquers All."

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Film Has Style But Little Substance, Nov 5 2001

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"tierneyfan" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heaven Can Wait (VHS Tape)

What was the point of the film? That adultery is forgivable and one can actually end up in heaven? The film lacks the wit of earlier Lubitsch films such as "Shop Around the Corner". It's way too talky and lacks action. For example, viewers would've sympathized with Martha the scorned wife more had the film shown her witnessing her husband's infidelity. Don Ameche is competent as the lead but lacks the spark and roguish charm the role requires. I found it hard to believe women would find him irresistable and that his wife would want to stay married to him. This film could've eliminated several scenes not quite pertinent to its story, which dilutes the impact of the storyline. Don't buy this film. Rent it first.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Henry Van Cleve's women
Well it is that time Henry (Don Ameche) has finally kicked the bucket. He finds himself in the antechamber of the place down there. Read more

Published on July 23 2006 by bernie

4.0 out of 5 stars Although not great, still worth seeing
Don Ameche stars as a turn of the century playboy who still has a good heart, and so the devil isn't convinced he belongs in Hell. Read more

Published on July 15 2002 by magellan