Heaven Can Wait
1943 · Movie · NR · 112 min · ★ 6.9 · 81% critics
After dying, a charming but self-indulgent man arrives at the entrance to Hell, convinced he belongs there. Given a chance to plead his case, he revisits key moments from his privileged life—romance, marriage, family pressures, and lapses in judgment—while an unflappable gatekeeper weighs whether his sins truly add up.
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2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1943
- Release date
- 1943-08-05
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 81/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (249 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a light, romantic comedy framed by an afterlife conversation, with gentle humor and nostalgia; Not for you if you dislike episodic storytelling or old-fashioned views—try The Shop Around the Corner for a tighter feel.
Pros: witty, pointed jokes; charming romance; colorful, lavish look | Cons: uneven, vignette structure; dated attitudes; slow for some
Themes
- afterlife
- hell
- based on play or musical
- devil
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1944 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1944 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1944 · nominated
Cast & crew
Don Ameche
as Henry Van Cleve
Gene Tierney
as Martha Strabel Van Cleve
Charles Coburn
as Hugo Van Cleve
Marjorie Main
as Mrs. Strabel
Laird Cregar
as His Excellency
Spring Byington
as Bertha Van Cleve
Allyn Joslyn
as Albert Van Cleve
Eugene Pallette
as E.F. Strabel
Signe Hasso
as Yvette ("Mademoiselle")
Louis Calhern
as Randolph Van Cleve
Directed by Ernst Lubitsch