Heaven Can Wait
“He believed in Love… Honor… and Obey – That Impulse!”
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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Cast
43 people
Don Ameche
Henry Van Cleve
Known for
Cocoon
Trading Places
Gene Tierney
Martha Strabel Van Cleve
Known for
Laura
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
Charles Coburn
Hugo Van Cleve
Known for
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
The Lady Eve
Marjorie Main
Mrs. Strabel
Known for
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Long, Long Trailer
Laird Cregar
His Excellency
Known for
Hangover Square
The Lodger
Spring Byington
Bertha Van Cleve
Known for
Meet John Doe
You Can't Take It with You
Allyn Joslyn
Albert Van Cleve
Known for
Only Angels Have Wings
The Great McGinty
Eugene Pallette
E.F. Strabel
Known for
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Signe Hasso
Yvette ("Mademoiselle")
Known for
A Double Life
Louis Calhern
Randolph Van Cleve
Known for
Notorious
The Asphalt Jungle
Helene Reynolds
Peggy Nash
Known for
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Aubrey Mather
James
Known for
The House of Fear
Ball of Fire
Ernst Lubitsch Director · Samson Raphaelson Screenplay Leslie Bush-Fekete Author
Worldwide gross $2.5M · Budget $1.1M · United States release August 5, 1943
Box office
Budget
$1,115,400
Worldwide gross
$2,500,000
Gross vs. budget
2.2×
Production
20th Century Fox
Production
20th Century Studios
Studio · Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · French
Release dates
United States · August 5, 1943
Limited theatrical · Los Angeles, California
United States
August 11, 1943 · Premiere · New York City, New York
August 13, 1943 · Theatrical
Brazil
January 1, 1944 · Theatrical
Netherlands
September 17, 1948 · Theatrical
August 2, 2006 · Physical · DVD
Sweden
February 9, 1944 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
September 5, 1943 · Theatrical
XC
March 19, 1948 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.