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Heaven Can Wait

Play trailer Poster for Heaven Can Wait 1943 1h 52m Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Spoiled playboy Henry van Cleve dies and arrives at the entrance to Hell, a final destination he is sure he deserves after living a life of profligacy. The devil, 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, with the hope that His Excellency will arrive at the proper judgment.
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Heaven Can Wait

Critics Reviews

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Joshua Rothkopf Time Out Jun 16, 2016
5/5
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. Go to Full Review Chuck Wilson Village Voice Jun 15, 2016
Heaven Can Wait may be 73 years old, but it's vibrant and alive, and teaching us anew the central language of film. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
... A smooth, appealing and highly commercial production. Lubitsch has endowed it with light, amusing sophistication and heart-warming nostalgia. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Mar 8, 2024
Ernst Lubitch’s first film in color is a gorgeous evocation of idealized Americana through three generations and a charming if meandering romantic comedy. Go to Full Review Edward Porter Sunday Times (UK) Oct 24, 2022
... This comedy is quite audacious in its liberal idea of what virtue looks like. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jun 7, 2021
3.5/4
What begins as a sprightly comedy eventually turns into an affecting look at loneliness, ageism and mortality. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David K @RT61474040 Sep 18, 2026 Not necessarily the best Lubitsch film I've seen, but a worthwhile watch, nonetheless. The two leads are pretty vanilla and that is the drawback. See more bruce C @bruce999 Aug 3, 2026 i like the actors, but this drama unfolded too slow, and put me to sleep, every time i try to watch it. See more mitchell C. @mitch89014 Apr 6, 2026 Excellent film, The “Don” looking and acting in top form, if you like classic films from this era, definitely watch it See more Russ G @RT78760655 Dec 26, 2025 I scanned this to see if it would be entertaining but didn't see much that appealed. The usually glamorous Miss Tierney looks rather dowdy here and that would be my only reason for watching this all the way through. The humor, if you can call it that, is dated. The technical movie making looks OK but based on the snippets I saw especially the scenes of our protagonist's infancy I can't recommend this dinosaur of a film. See more Scott M @RT75128960 Dec 23, 2025 Silly movie about what is considered a happy life I assume. Yes a happy marriage is a happy life. Yes having a happy child is a happy life. But the way they show it did not make me happy. Good acting by Don Ameche. See more bao s @RT77741678 Jul 23, 2025 Beautiful pacing and story... Looks beautiful in high definition.. See more Read all reviews
Heaven Can Wait

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Cast & Crew

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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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Heaven Can Wait

Heaven Can Wait (1943) Heaven Can Wait (1943) Heaven Can Wait (1943) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Spoiled playboy Henry van Cleve dies and arrives at the entrance to Hell, a final destination he is sure he deserves after living a life of profligacy. The devil, 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, with the hope that His Excellency will arrive at the proper judgment.
Director
Ernst Lubitsch
Producer
Ernst Lubitsch
Screenwriter
Samson Raphaelson
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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