Heaven Can Wait ***½ (1978, Warren Beatty, Dyan Cannon, Charles Grodin, James Mason, Julie Christie, Jack Warden, Vincent Gardenia, Buck Henry) – Classic Movie Review 3451

Co-writer/ co-producer/ co-director/ star Warren Beatty’s 1978 comedy is no relation to the 1943 classic Ernst Lubitsch movie of the same name, Heaven Can Wait, but instead a highly amusing and popular remake of Here Comes Mr Jordan (1941). A prestige production, it disappointed at the Oscars, winning just the one for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, after nine nominations.

Beatty casts himself as Joe Pendleton, a Los Angeles Rams football quarterback, who is mistakenly taken away from his body when he is almost killed in an accident. An anxious angel takes him to heaven and discovers that he was not ready to die and his body has been cremated.

He is sent back to earth, but as his former body obviously can’t be revived, a new body must be found – that of a recently murdered millionaire. So Joe has to continue life as a horrid tycoon whose wife (Dyan Cannon) and accountant/secretary (Charles Grodin) are the the murderers and try to bump him off. Joe falls in love with an English environmental activist Betty Logan (Julie Christie), who naturally disapproves of him.

Beatty’s movie offers a charming and agreeable fantasy, even if it’s too mild in the writing by Beatty and Elaine May, either as black comedy or as satire on big business. But it’s carried with attractive playing from an outstanding cast including James Mason as Mr Jordan the devilish celestial guide, Jack Warden, Vincent Gardenia and Buck Henry as The Escort. Henry also co-directs with Beatty.

Also in the cast are Joseph Maher, Arthur Malet, Frank Campanella, R G Armstrong and John Randolph.

The guys who went home with the Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration were Paul Sylbert, Edwin O’Donovan and George Gaines.

Remade as Down to Earth (2001) with Chris Rock, Regina King and Chazz Palminteri.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3451

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