Heaven Can Wait 1943
Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche) comes from a wealthy New York family and has enjoyed a privileged life, which comes to an end the day after his 70th birthday. Henry presents himself at an antechamber to Hell, where he’s greeted by the Devil himself (Laird Cregar), whom Henry addresses as Your Excellency. Although Henry assumes he’s headed downstairs because of his many indiscretions while alive, His Excellency decides to review his case, and invites Henry to recall his life in detail. This Henry does by relating the significant incidents of his time on earth to those women who played the most important parts in his life. There then follows a series of lengthy flashbacks tracing Henry’s life from the cradle to his deathbed.

BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:52:46 | 44.8 Gb + 7.59 Gb
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Cast: Gene Tierney, Don Ameche, Charles Coburn
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Extras:

Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris - in this filmed conversation, film critics Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris discuss the brilliant management of different themes and overtones in Heaven Can Wait, Don Ameche and Gene Tierney's performances, the balance between the funny and the serious, how the film's personality to a certain extent actually reflects that of its creator, Samson Raphaelson' script and some compromises that were made for its final version, Ernst Lubitsch's career in Hollywood, etc. The conversation was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2005. In English, not subtitled. (25 min, 1080i).

Samson Raphaelson - screenwriter Samson Rahaelson collaborated with Ernst Lubitsch on nine films. Included here are two programs that take a closer look at his life, legacy and professional relationship with the famous director.

-- Creativity with Bill Moyers - this episode of the PBS series Creativity with Bill Moyers was directed by David Grubin in 1982. The program features archival features with Samson Rahaelson, who at the time was 84. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080i).

-- At MOMA - presented here is an original audio recording of a seminar that Samson Rahaelson presented at the Museum of Modern Art in New York after a screening of Heaven Can Wait in 1977. Audio only. In English, not subtitled. (53 min, 1080p).

Ernst Lubitsch: A Musical Collage - presented here is a collection rare home recordings of Ernst Lubitsch paying the piano, illustrated with a collage of photographs featuring him and his family. Also included is an introduction by the director's daughter, Nicola Lubitsch. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080i).

Marketing -

-- Trailer - original vintage trailer for Heaven Can Wait. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

-- Gallery - a collection of original publicity stills for the film supplied by Twentieth Century Fox. (1080p).

-- Press Book - original pressbook for the film supplied by Nicola Lubitsch.