Heaven Can Wait

Released Aug 11, 1943

1h 52m

Fantasy

List

89%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Spoiled playboy Henry van Cleve (Don Ameche) dies and arrives at the entrance to Hell, a final destination he is sure he deserves after living a life of profligacy. The devil (Laird Cregar), however, isn't so sure Henry meets Hell's standards. Convinced he is where he belongs, Henry recounts his life's deeds, both good and bad, including an act of indiscretion during his 25-year marriage to his wife, Martha (Gene Tierney), with the hope that "His Excellency" will arrive at the proper judgment.

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Count German expat Ernst Lubitsch among the directors whose films require a darkened theater and a willing audience to even work -- you just won't get him at home on your flatscreen.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 16, 2016

Full Review

Chuck Wilson

Village Voice

Heaven Can Wait may be 73 years old, but it's vibrant and alive, and teaching us anew the central language of film.

Jun 15, 2016

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

... A smooth, appealing and highly commercial production. Lubitsch has endowed it with light, amusing sophistication and heart-warming nostalgia.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Ernst Lubitch’s first film in color is a gorgeous evocation of idealized Americana through three generations and a charming if meandering romantic comedy.

Mar 8, 2024

Full Review

Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

... This comedy is quite audacious in its liberal idea of what virtue looks like.

Oct 24, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

What begins as a sprightly comedy eventually turns into an affecting look at loneliness, ageism and mortality.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 7, 2021

Full Review

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b v

When it first starts out, it feels slightly dated perhaps, but once it gets going, I think it's actually quite a beautiful movie. It's not a 9 or a 10. I think it's a 7.5 or an 8.2 out of 10 depending on your frame of mind. Once I gave into the film, it was an 8.2 out of 10 for me. It's a bubble gum romance where, despite the occasional wandering of the husband, the wife forgives him and loves him - and obviously leaves with him with a tremendous feeling of guilt. Have a grilled cheese with some tomato soup, and then watch the movie without thinking too deeply about it. When it ends, you'll have a smile on your face. Then, you'll either go and cheat on your wife knowing she'll forgive you, or you'll think, man, they sure were lucky back in 1943, and then you'll go pick up your kids from soccer. : )

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/24

Full Review

Alec B

The ending is a fairly obvious one but the rest of the movie is often operating on a more complex level than you might expect from this type of comedy. It's also very funny which doesn't hurt.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

nick s

I'll give it high marks for the production effort, but the humour feels like a product of its time. A little too dated for me.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/06/23

Full Review

joel h

Heaven Can Wait is like a lesser version of It's a Wonderful Life. The plot is about a look back through someone's life in order to find the moments that defined them. However, Heaven Can Wait uses the framework of a man who is trying to figure out if he is destined for heaven or if he's supposed to go "where innumerable people had told him so often to go." It was entertaining to see Don Ameche as a young man playing an old man, when I've only really known him as an old man in my lifetime. It takes a little while to get where it's going, but it has some endearing moments, and it also makes you think.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Ed M

Slow, dated. Although seeing Charles Coburn and Eugene Pallette in the same movie is awesome.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/29/21

Full Review

Audience Member

The ending is a fairly obvious one but the rest of the movie is often operating on a more complex level than you might expect from this type of comedy. It's also very funny which doesn't hurt.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

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Ernst Lubitsch

Director

Gene Tierney

Martha

Don Ameche

Henry Van Cleve

Charles Coburn

Hugo Van Cleve

Marjorie Main

Mrs. Strable

Laird Cregar

His Excellency

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Synopsis

Spoiled playboy Henry van Cleve (Don Ameche) dies and arrives at the entrance to Hell, a final destination he is sure he deserves after living a life of profligacy. The devil (Laird Cregar), however, isn't so sure Henry meets Hell's standards. Convinced he is where he belongs, Henry recounts his life's deeds, both good and bad, including an act of indiscretion during his 25-year marriage to his wife, Martha (Gene Tierney), with the hope that "His Excellency" will arrive at the proper judgment.

Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Producer: Ernst Lubitsch
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 52m

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