Ernst Lubitsch, the great European director who immigrated to America and changed movies for the better shows his true light touch in this very original yet very charming story about one man's life and the changes and problems he faces. Don Ameche is perfect as the lead character, Henry Van Cleeves, a man spoiled rotten as a child but grows up and learns many things, mostly from his beautiful wife Martha, played by Gene Tiereny. However, the best role goes to Charles Coburn who plays the rough, frank, outspoken yet lovable grandfather who sympathizes with Henry and strives to make his life better.

The kind of material here could have been used to make an epic story on the level of films like Gone With the Wind or Giant. Nevertheless, we see Henry's life in full motion, always moving ahead even when he is helpless to stop it. And Lubitsch's touch has never been more prominent, taking some scenes any other director would have made disturbing or unsettling and giving them a witty and comical feeling. It's a shame Lubitsch died so early or else we could have gotten more of these classic and moving stories.

Believe it or not, this movie owes a lot to the incredibly long-winded and horrid epic German poem, FAUST. While it is not a word-for-word recreation of this horror, it is very similar--particularly at the very end when the lead character is miraculously transported from Hell to Heaven due to his love for a woman. Do yourself a favor and DON'T read the poem--its tedious and only something pseudo-intellectuals read so they can seem smarter they are. I only read it because I was held hostage by a group of deranged English Lit majors and forced at gunpoint! Anyway, back to the review. The story is a long series of flashbacks in Hell as Don Ameche tells his life story to the most erudite and pleasant Satan I have ever seen on film--it makes you kind of look forward to eternal damnation.

The story is handled beautifully and extremely artistically--thanks to the great director, Ernst Lubitsch. Watch it and enjoy--it's a heck of a film.

I have loved Gene Tierney since Laura and The Ghost and Mrs Muir, and Ernst Lubitsch is a brilliant director, I am especially fond of The Shop Around the Corner and The Merry Widow. Heaven Can Wait is a wonderful film, and another one of Lubitsch's best. The production values are impeccable, with stunning costumes and beautiful photography and sets and the Technicolour is as radiant now as it was then. Alfred Newman's score is wonderful, and the soundtrack choices are perfectly chosen and incorporated. The script is filled with warmth, charm, wit and honesty, while the story is never dull and Lubitsch's direction superb. Don Ameche is perfectly cast, Gene Tierney looks gorgeous, Laird Cregar is very effective in his satanic role and Charles Coburn is hilarious as the wise-cracking grandfather. So all in all, a classic. 10/10 Bethany Cox