Heaven Can Wait (1943)

Heaven Can Wait - 1943

Next we have 1943's "Heaven Can Wait", the story of the life of Henry Van Cleve.  Following his death, Henry presents himself at the gates of Hell after what he feels is a dissolute life.  The devil listens to the story of his life before passing judgement.  Will he be deserving of Heaven or Hell?

The supporting cast includes Charles Coburn, Marjorie Main, Laird Cregar, Spring Byington, Allyn Joslyn, Eugene Pallette, Louis Calhern, Helene Reynolds, Tod Andrews, Florence Bates, and Anita Sharp-Bolster.

After he dies, Henry Van Cleve makes his way to the lobby of Hell.  Henry believes that after the life he's led he has no other alternative than to face the fate he knows is waiting for him.

He meets His Excellency (the devil himself).  His Excellency can't seem to recall the particulars of Henry's life and asks him to tell a little about himself.

Henry talks about his death and what brought him to where he is at the present time.  "If you meet our requirements we'll be only too glad to accommodate you.  Would you be good enough to mention, for instance, some outstanding crime you've committed?" His Excellency asks.  "Crime?  Crime?" Henry asks.  "I'm afraid I can't think of any.  But I can safely say my whole life was one continuous misdemeanor."

Henry tells of the time he met Martha.  She was engaged to his cousin and it was their engagement that was being celebrated at the home of Henry's parents.  Unbeknownst to Henry's cousin Albert, Henry and Martha had met before.  Henry had been leading a fast-paced, carefree life that was the cause of much heartache to his family.  All that changed when he met Martha.

He had followed her into a bookstore.  He pretended to work there in order to talk with her.  Eventually, Henry tells her he doesn't work there.  "I'm not a book salesman," he tells her.  I took one look at you and followed you into the store.  If you had walked into a restaurant, I would’ve become a waiter.  If you had walked into a burning building, I would’ve become a fireman.  If you had walked into an elevator, I would’ve stopped it between two floors, and we’d have spent the rest of our lives there."

He tells her she doesn't need the book she's wanting, "How To Make Your Husband Happy" by Dr. Blossom Franklin.  "Now where could a woman like that have found out how to make her husband happy?" Henry asks.

The two part company, never even telling each other's names.  They meet again at the party at Henry's house, which happens to be on Henry's birthday.

When Henry asked Martha why she wanted to marry his cousin, Martha replied, "Don’t misunderstand me.  I love Kansas.  It’s just that I don’t feel like living there.  Besides that, I didn’t want to be an old maid.  Not in Kansas!"  They fall in love and elope that very night.

Fast forward ten years and Martha has run home to Kansas after discovering that Henry was unfaithful.

Martha's father, meat packing baron E.F. Strable, was famous for his Mable the Cow advertising campaign.  "To the world my name is Mabel, which you’ll find on every label.  I am packed by E.F. Strable for the pleasure of your table."  Henry's grandfather, Hugo, upon hearing this slogan replied, "No cow in its right mind could’ve said anything like that.  Sounds more like Mr. Strable!"

A hilarious scene occurs inside between Mr. and Mrs. Strable, who never speak to each other unless it's through their servant Jasper.  Mr. Strable wants the funny papers and Mrs. Strable isn't about to give them up.  She tells Jasper all about what's in them to the consternation of Mr. Strable.  It's a very well done scene.

Henry succeeds in making Martha forgive him, much to the delight of his overjoyed grandfather, who made the journey to Kansas with Henry.  They have to sneak out of the Strable house at night, just as they had ten years earlier when they eloped.  "Jasper, all my life I've wanted to run away with a woman," says Grandfather Hugo, "and Jasper, it's happening!"  As they are riding away, Hugo turns towards the house and Martha's father and shouts, "And so, farewell, dear E.F. Strable.  We'll take Martha, you keep Mabel!"

Fast forward another fifteen years and Henry and Martha are celebrating their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  They've been through much together, including trying to get their son out of some of the same scrapes Henry was in when he was younger.  Henry didn't know that Martha was ill and that this was to be their last anniversary.  Henry lives out the rest of his life alone, dying at the age of 70, after living a rich, full life.

Henry finishes his story up his life story.  His Excellency smiles at him and says, "I hope you will not consider me inhospitable if I say, sorry, Mr. Van Cleve, but we don't cater to your class of people here.  Please make your reservation somewhere else."  Henry is confused, not understanding how he could be let into Heaven.  His Excellency tells him of all the people up there he's known whom he has made happy.  The girls of his youth.  His grandfather.  Martha.  "She will plead for you," His Excellency says with a smile.

He leads the disbelieving Henry to an elevator.  The elevator boy looks at His Excellency and asks, "Down?"

"Up," comes the bemused reply.

Cast rundown:

   Gene Tierney..................................Martha Van Cleve

   Don Ameche...................................Henry Van Cleve

   Charles Coburn...............................Hugo Van Cleve

   Marjorie Main..................................Mrs. Strable

   Laird Cregar....................................His Excellency

   Spring Byington..............................Bertha Van Cleve

   Allyn Joslyn...................................Albert Van Cleve

   Eugene Pallette...............................E.F. Strable

   Louis Calhern..................................Randolph Van Cleve

   Helene Reynolds..............................Peggy Nash

   Tod Andrews...................................Jack Van Cleve

   Florence Bates.................................Mrs. Edna Craig

   Anita Sharp-Bolster...........................Mrs. Cooper-Cooper

And that's all for Heaven Can Wait.  Don Ameche said this was his favorite of all the films he worked on (though not his favorite role).  It's a fun, yet touching movie, beautifully filmed by Ernst Lubitsch.

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