291 Heaven Can Wait
- Matt
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
I think the likability of this film rests almost entirely on how charming you find Don Ameche (and possibly on how much you adore stalwart character actors such as Louis Calhern, Marjorie Main, Charles Coburn, and Eugene Pallette). I love this sweet, gentle film, but I certainly would not put it in the same class as Meet Me In St. Louis.
- Napier
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:48 am
- Location: The Shire
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
Finally, some positive words about this film. Definitely not the Lubes best, but I am utterly charmed by it every time I watch it. If you don't like this one there is always Warren Beatty's version.Matt wrote:I think the likability of this film rests almost entirely on how charming you find Don Ameche (and possibly on how much you adore stalwart character actors such as Louis Calhern, Marjorie Main, Charles Coburn, and Eugene Pallette). I love this sweet, gentle film, but I certainly would not put it in the same class as Meet Me In St. Louis.
- Noiretirc
- Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:04 pm
- Location: VanIsle
- Contact:
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
Did you see the first 3/4 of this thread? As for Beatty's "version", indeed. (Edit: Because, that is not a version of the 1943 film. It is however, a version of what Domino notes below.)Napier wrote:Finally, some positive words about this film. Definitely not the Lubes best, but I am utterly charmed by it every time I watch it. If you don't like this one there is always Warren Beatty's version.
Last edited by Noiretirc on Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:14 am, edited 2 times in total.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
This isn't the Here Comes Mr Jordan thread
- justeleblanc
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:05 pm
- Location: Connecticut
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
I want that on a t-shirt!!!domino harvey wrote:This isn't the Here Comes Mr Jordan thread
- Agnes of God
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:07 pm
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
I can't say this is my favourite Lubitsch, but I will agree with it's supporters that it certainly is charming. I'm not even a fan of Don Ameche under most circomstances, but here, he is subdued and charming. The bookends are delightful, and I think it's a rather down to earth love stories with reasonable ups and downs. Doesn't hold up against something like To Be or Not To Be or Cluny Brown, but how many films do?
- HerrSchreck
- Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
You'll lose the respect of friends & family though.justeleblanc wrote:I want that on a t-shirt!!!domino harvey wrote:This isn't the Here Comes Mr Jordan thread
- Max von Mayerling
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:02 pm
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
You're assuming that he had their respect in the first place.
- HistoryProf
- Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:48 am
- Location: KCK
Re:
bzzzzzt! That award goes to the opening of P&Ps Matter of Life and Death (AKA Stairway to Heaven)domino harvey wrote:the first five minutes of this film are the best first five minutes of any film
However, it is right up there....and I was pleasantly surprised by the clever naughtiness of the dialog. good stuff all around. and yes, Gene Tierney is one of the most underrated actresses of all time.
- zedz
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm
Re: Re:
Pah! That's not even the best five minutes of a Powell / Pressburger film. I Know Where I'm Going!HistoryProf wrote:bzzzzzt! That award goes to the opening of P&Ps Matter of Life and Death (AKA Stairway to Heaven)domino harvey wrote:the first five minutes of this film are the best first five minutes of any film
- Saarijas
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 3:03 pm
- Location: CT
- Contact:
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
I hate to have this thread descend into a discussion of best movie openings, but it's really an interesting topic. A lot of the time the first 5 minutes are a make it or break it moment for me. Like first impressions, if the first few minutes really snag me, I'm engrossed for the whole film (even if the rest is relatively disappointing) while a laborious opening, or anything that makes me doubt my viewing decision means the film really needs to work uphill for me to get full engrossed in it.
And for my money, Ace in the Hole has the greatest opening.
And for my money, Ace in the Hole has the greatest opening.
- bugsy_pal
- Joined: Mon May 12, 2008 1:28 am
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
I watched this again a couple of weeks ago. I have seen it a number of times over the years, on an old VHS copy and now on the Criterion disc. It was my introduction to Lubitsch and I have a soft spot for the film. I can see why some people may not like it - I think both Don Ameche and Gene Tierney are rather stilted in their roles, and everything about the movie seems very stitched up. But I still think it's a very clever and witty film - not much in the way of laugh-out-loud moments, but I still got some nice chuckles. My wife saw it for the first time just recently and she enjoyed it greatly, and had a tear in her eye during a couple of key moments.
I particularly like the use of colour in the film - it's all very choreographed, but I would think it was pretty novel in that respect in its day, given that colour was fairly new.
I still prefer Shop Around the Corner - the acting of the Stewart and Sullivan is so much more convincing to me. But Heaven Can Wait is definitely worthy of the Criterion treatment.
I particularly like the use of colour in the film - it's all very choreographed, but I would think it was pretty novel in that respect in its day, given that colour was fairly new.
I still prefer Shop Around the Corner - the acting of the Stewart and Sullivan is so much more convincing to me. But Heaven Can Wait is definitely worthy of the Criterion treatment.
- FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
Has there been any suggestion of an upgrade or news of a restoration for this?
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
- hearthesilence
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:22 am
- Location: NYC
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
Nice! And it took long enough - the Film Foundation screened a sparkling 35mm print of their brand new restoration back in 2015 at the NYFF (in Alice Tully Hall too, which has an enormous screen). I figured it would be available on BD within a year, but regardless, three years is better than never.
-
- Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2017 11:35 pm
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
So happy this is getting an upgrade. Long overdue.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
Thank you Jesus, one of my all time favs. Hope this looks as amazing as Mrs Cooper-Cooper's aria sounds to Cousin Albert
-
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:51 am
- Location: Resistencia
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
Hi guys. I'm new here and was wondering why this extra:
Is it somehow related to this movie? I havent seen it and it truly intrigues me as I loved The shop around the corner and Trouble in paradise.Home recordings of director Ernst Lubitsch playing the piano
- FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
Rewatched this old favorite over the weekend and thought the restoration looked terrific-- the color choices in Hell unintentionally being the same as faded technicolor makes it at first look suspect, but of course that's how the set's supposed to look and the increased detail is quite impressive.
Not sure there's any movie character I love more than Charles Coburn's Grandpapa. Also, I always forget the perversity of the scene where Gene Tierney's reveal is not shown but instead expressed through the words of the butler slowly describing her exact location and movements-- such a bizarre joke!
Not sure there's any movie character I love more than Charles Coburn's Grandpapa. Also, I always forget the perversity of the scene where Gene Tierney's reveal is not shown but instead expressed through the words of the butler slowly describing her exact location and movements-- such a bizarre joke!
- FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
Re: 291 Heaven Can Wait
There are times when supplements make me appreciate the film even more than I initially did. This is the case after hearing Sarris and Haskell have a wonderful, insightful 24 plus minute discussion on the film, Lubitch and Raphaelson. I watched it twice. Before and after watching the film.
The one aspect that jumps out to me about Lubitsch's style is his actors deliver their dialogue in kind of a lilting, almost singsong manor. It's a commonality in all his films I've seen. It's very endearing to me
I have to agree with Domino. The first 5 minutes are truly great.
The one aspect that jumps out to me about Lubitsch's style is his actors deliver their dialogue in kind of a lilting, almost singsong manor. It's a commonality in all his films I've seen. It's very endearing to me
I have to agree with Domino. The first 5 minutes are truly great.