Heaven Can Wait (1943): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch
Heaven Can Wait is a 1943 comedy drama directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Scotty Beckett as Henry Van Cleve - Age 9 (uncredited), Dickie Moore and Clara Blandick. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes. Stream it on Fawesome and Hoopla, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Ernst Lubitsch
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Heaven Can Wait About?
The premise of Heaven Can Wait without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
He lives by a creed of love, honor, and obedience, but the decadent playboy Henry van Cleve dies and finds himself at Hell’s gates, convinced he belongs there. The devil doubts his worthiness. Henry reviews his life—his lavish excesses, a 25‑year marriage to Martha, and a moment of infidelity—hoping that a higher authority will deliver a fair judgment.
Heaven Can Wait Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- deal with the devil
- satan character
- reference to leander and hero
- based on a stage play
- devil character
- reference to faust
- hell
- birthday
- marriage
- dream
- servant
- reference to shakespeare's romeo and juliet
+38 more Show fewer
- butler
- year 1888
- year 1887
- reference to little lord fauntleroy
- love triangle
- flashback
- reference to casanova
- african american
- tutor
- reference to satan
- playboy
- new york city
- comics
- hades the underworld
- reference to muhammad
- male police officer
- police
- police officer
- 1900s
- 1910s
- 1920s
- 1930s
- 1870s
- 1890s
- broken marriage engagement
- daughter lies to her mother
- father and son attracted to the same woman
- man carries a woman in his arms
- pouring water over someone's head
- promiscuous man
- money
- reference to delmonico's restaurant
- flash forward
- thermometer
- looking at oneself in a mirror
- mirror
- night nurse
- reference to the merry widow waltz
Where to Watch Heaven Can Wait
Stream it on Fawesome and Hoopla, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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Heaven Can Wait Cast & Characters
Scotty Beckett leads the cast as Henry Van Cleve - Age 9 (uncredited), with Dickie Moore as Henry Van Cleve - Age 15 (uncredited) and Clara Blandick as Grandmother Van Cleve (uncredited). Directed by Ernst Lubitsch; 43 actors are credited in all.
- Director Ernst Lubitsch
-
Scotty Beckett as Henry Van Cleve - Age 9 (uncredited) -
Dickie Moore as Henry Van Cleve - Age 15 (uncredited) - Clara Blandick as Grandmother Van Cleve (uncredited)
- Michael McLean as Henry Van Cleve - as Baby (uncredited)
Also Starring in Heaven Can Wait
· 39 more- Don Ameche Henry Van Cleve
- Laird Cregar His Excellency
- James Conaty Man in Park with Top Hat (uncredited)
- Louis Calhern Randolph Van Cleve
- Spring Byington Bertha Van Cleve
- Charles Coburn Hugo Van Cleve
- Eugene Pallette E.F. Strabel
- Marjorie Main Mrs. Strabel
- Gene Tierney Martha Strabel Van Cleve
- June Preston Jack Van Cleve daughter (age 13) (uncredited)
- Allyn Joslyn Albert Van Cleve
- Helene Reynolds Peggy Nash
- Tod Andrews Jack Van Cleve
- Nino Pipitone Jr. Jack Van Cleve - as Child (uncredited)
- James Flavin Policeman (uncredited)
- Bess Flowers Party Guest (uncredited)
Show all 43 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Florence Bates Mrs. Edna Craig (uncredited)
- Harold Miller Party Guest (uncredited)
- Bert Moorhouse Party Guest (uncredited)
- Clarence Muse Jasper (uncredited)
- Edwin Maxwell Doctor (uncredited)
- Jay Eaton Book Store Clerk (uncredited)
- Claire Du Brey Miss Ralston - Jack's Secretary (uncredited)
- Monty O'Grady Party Guest (uncredited)
- Jack Deery Party Guest (uncredited)
- Leonard Carey Flogdell (uncredited)
- Anne O'Neal Day Nurse (uncredited)
- Aubrey Mather James
- Anita Sharp-Bolster Mrs. Cooper-Cooper (uncredited)
- Gary Gray Boy in Park (uncredited)
- Signe Hasso Yvette ("Mademoiselle")
- Trudy Marshall Jane Van Cleve - Jack's Wife (uncredited)
- Gerald Oliver Smith Smith - Van Cleve's Second Butler (uncredited)
- Grayce Hampton Albert's Mother (uncredited)
- Gerald Pierce Elevator Operator (uncredited)
- Doris Merrick Nellie Brown - Registered Nurse (uncredited)
- Maureen Roden-Ryan Bediliah - Nurse in Park (uncredited)
- Alfred Hall Albert's Father (uncredited)
- Marlene Mains Mary - Age 9 (uncredited)
Heaven Can Wait Plot Summary
What happens in Heaven Can Wait from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
An aged Henry Van Cleve Don Ameche enters the opulent reception area of the afterlife, a grand hall where many souls have been told to go, and is personally greeted by a stern figure known as His Excellency. He asks to be admitted, fully aware of the life he has led, and begins to tell the story that might justify his place beyond the doors. The tale unfolds with a calm, candid voice, turning a private life into a public verdict as if the very act of recounting could tilt the scales of judgment in his favor.
Full summary
The whole story of Heaven Can Wait, scene by scene
Heaven Can Wait Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette John Landis on HEAVEN CAN WAIT
How Well Do You Know Heaven Can Wait?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the full name of the film's main character?
Heaven Can Wait Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “O Diabo Disse: Não!” and “Il cielo può attendere”.
- Also known as
-
- O Diabo Disse: Não!
- Il cielo può attendere
- Le ciel peut attendre
- Ein himmlischer Sünder
- El diablo dijo no
- O Céu Pode Esperar
- Himlen kan vänta
- השמיים יכולים לחכות
- O Diabo Disse Não
- Cennet Bekleyebilir
- De hemel kan wachten
- 天堂可以等待
+14 more Show fewer
- Raiul mai poate aștepta
- 천국은 기다려준다
- Небеса могут подождать
- 天国は待ってくれる
- Nebo može čekati
- 天長地久
- Himlen må vente
- Taivas odottakoon
- Ép testben épp, hogy élek
- Ο ουρανός ας περιμένει
- Himmelen kan vente
- Nebe může počkat
- Niebiosa mogą zaczekać
- Nebo počká
Seen Heaven Can Wait?
Movies Like Heaven Can Wait
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Heaven Can Wait, Heaven on Earth and For Heaven’s Sake.
Heaven Can Wait FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of Heaven Can Wait, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was Heaven Can Wait released?
Heaven Can Wait was released on August 5, 1943.
Who directed Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait was directed by Ernst Lubitsch.
More films by Ernst Lubitsch Who is in the cast of Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait stars Scotty Beckett as Henry Van Cleve - Age 9 (uncredited), Dickie Moore as Henry Van Cleve - Age 15 (uncredited) and Clara Blandick as Grandmother Van Cleve (uncredited), among 43 credited actors.
Where can I watch Heaven Can Wait?
In the US, Heaven Can Wait is streaming on Fawesome, Hoopla and Plex and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
Does Heaven Can Wait have a post-credit scene?
No. Heaven Can Wait has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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