HEAVEN CAN WAIT
(20th Century-Fox)
HE legendary Lubitsch "touch" is rather heavy-handed in this satirical comedy about the life and death of a gay though not particularly disreputable Lothario
of the ’nineties in New York. At the age of 70, Henry van Cleve (Don Ameche) dies and philosophically presents himself at the place to which so many people had told him to go; and it was a bright idea (typically Lubitsch) to depict the old fellow’s story as told by him to the Evil One while seeking the place in the infernal regions to which he believes his misspent life entitles him. At the end, His Satanic Excellency puts him into the lift and directs him to the Other Place, assuring him that he will find accommodation awaiting in the annexe. With this decision the audience will probably not disagree, since Henry van Cleve is really not a very notable sinner. In fact it might have livened up the entertainment considerably if. he had been. As it is the recital of Henry’s life story is so long-winded and so lacking in spectacular wickedness that you may easily find yourself wishing, as I did, that he had died in middle age. But I had no such feelings about Charles Coburn, as Henry’s grandfather: his longevity is a definite asset to the picture.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19450329.2.33.1.2
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 301, 29 March 1945, Page 17
Word count
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221HEAVEN CAN WAIT New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 301, 29 March 1945, Page 17
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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