Released - August, 1943 

Directed By - Ernst Lubitsch

Starring- Gene Tierney (Martha), Don Ameche (Henry Van Cleve), Charles Coburn (Hugo Van Cleve), Marjorie Main (Mrs. Strable), Laird Cregar (His Excellency).

Description – Forget the pearly gates, Henry Van Cleve has to prove his unworthiness in order to enter Hell. He feels he deserves it. Told in flashbacks, Henry begins his story with his spoiled rotten childhood as the only child of stuffy upper class parents.

This overly privileged upbringing had made Henry a lazy man with an attraction for beautiful showgirls. On one particular day, Henry overhears an attractive woman lying to her mother on a public payphone. He follows her to a bookstore, pretending to work there, intent on getting to know her better.

Learning that the woman is engaged doesn’t stop Henry from making a pass at her. However, she learns that he too is lying and is not an employee of the bookstore. She leaves.

Later that day, Henry’s cousin has shown up to introduce his fiancee and her feuding parents to the family. Sure enough, the woman turns out to be the same woman from the bookstore. Her name is Martha and she has agreed to marry cousin Albert for fear that if she doesn’t she will end up an old spinster trapped in Kansas.

In a last ditch effort to win over Martha, Henry is able to get her to change her mind and elope with him. They live happily enough for awhile until Martha passes away.

Is this family betrayal deserving enough to get Henry into Hell for which he feels he deserves, or is their an option for a “better place” where he may reunite with Martha?

NOTABLE: Heaven Can Wait received three Oscar nominations; Best Picture, Best Director (Ernst Lubitsch), and Best Cinematography, Color.

Director Ernst Lubitsch was originally unhappy with the selection of Don Ameche for the lead role. However, Ameche’s dedication and professionalism won him over. In a 1983 interview, Ameche stated that this was his favorite film.

This film was director Lubitsch’s only completed film in Technicolor.

During filming, Gene Tierney found out that she was pregnant.

Personal Note:Director Ernst Lubitsch was often credited with adding “the Lubitsch touch” to his movies. This is an excellent example and remains one of the most enjoyable fantasy-love stories ever made.

In 1978, Warren Beatty starred in a film also titled Heaven Can Wait. There has often been some confusion regarding the belief that this movie was a remake of 1943′s Heaven Can Wait. In fact, the 1978 picture was actually a remake of 1941′s Here Comes Mr. Jordan.

Heaven Can Wait (Criterion Collection)

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Released – March, 1942 

Directed By - Ernst Lubitsch

Starring – Carole Lombard (Maria Tura), Jack Benny (Joseph Tura), Robert Stack (Lt. Stanislav Sobinski), Felix Bressart (Greenberg), Lionel Atwill (Rawitch).

Description – The efforts of a Polish soldier to track down a Nazi spy are aided (sort of) by a troupe of ham stage actors who use their skill at disguise to fool the occupying troops in Poland.

The Nazi spy has information that would hurt the Polish resistance and this information must not make it into German hands.

Enjoy this comedic exercise in espionage which caused considerable controversy when released.

NOTABLE: In 1996 this film was chosen for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This motion picture received one Oscar nomination for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or comedy picture.

Director Lubitsch never considered another actor for the role of Joseph Tura beside Jack Benny and had developed the character with Benny in mind.

Although Director Lubitsch was heavily critisized, and his career hurt  for this satire about Nazi’s, this film is now regarded as one of his best.

Sadly, actress Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash during post-production of the film. She had been returning from a tour selling war bonds.

In 2006 Premiere voted this film as one of “The 50 Greatest Comedies of All Time.” 

To Be or Not to Be

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January, 1942 – Actress Carole Lombard, beautiful, talented, and far too young to die, was killed in a Sierra, Nevada mountain plane crash last evening. She was 34. All 19 passengers on board were killed. They included the stars mother and press agent. Lombard was returning from a very successful tour promoting the sale of War Bonds. 

In 1937 Carole Lombard was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the screwbal comedy My Man Godfrey opposite her ex-husband William Powell who received the Best Actor nomination.

At that time, Lombard was the highest paid actress in Hollywood. Her final role was in the now famous Ernst Lubitsch production of To Be or Not To Be, the strong anti-Nazi film completed just after the bombing at Pearl Harbor.

In 1939, after a long courtship, Carole Lombard married fellow Hollywood superstar Clark Gable.

Released – October, 1932  

Directed By - Ernst Lubitsch

Starring – Miriam Hopkins (Lily), Kay Francis (Madame Mariette Colet), Herbert Marshall (Gaston Monescu), Charles Ruggles (The Major), Edward Everett Horton (Francois Filiba).

Description – A romantic comedy that tells the story of Gaston Monescu a master thief who meets and falls for Lily a beautiful pickpocket. The two team up and take jobs with famous perfume manufacturer Madame Colet, herself a beautiful woman.

Intent on making Madame Colet their next victim, her beauty only creates a love triangle of trouble. Affairs of the heart, hundreds of thousands of Franc’s, and diamonds just don’t mix.

NOTABLE: In 1991 this film was selected for inclusion in the United States National Film Registry.

This motion picture was produced before the activation of the Hays Code and contained a great deal of adult themes and sexual innuendo. After the inception of the code the film was denied a reissue and was not viewed again until 1968.

Cary Grant was considered for the lead male role, but was considered too young.

This movie is probably the most widely known of Director Lubitsch and showcased what came to be known as ‘The Lubitsch Touch;’ that included subtlety, elegance, expressions of good taste, and the desire to let the audience decide what should be shown or not shown.

Trouble in Paradise – Criterion Collection

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Released - March, 1932 

Directed By - Ernst Lubitsch

Starring – Maurice Chevalier (Dr. Andre Bertier), Jeanette MacDonald (Colette Bertier), Genevieve Tobin (Mitzi Olivier), Charles Ruggles (Adolph), Roland Young (Professor Olivier).

Description – When you are the perfect couple and as happily married as Dr. Andre Bertier and his wife Colette, what could possibly go wrong?

Well, start with an introduction of the Doctor to the very attractive, flirtatious, and persistent Mitzi Olivier whose husband wants to divorce her, and the unexpected attraction of Colette to another man and lets see what happens.

NOTABLE: This picture was nominated for Best Picture Oscar.

The title song for this film was later used as the theme song for Eddie Cantor’s radio show.

Included in Eclipse Series 8 Lubitsch Musicals 

Eclipse Series 8 – Lubitsch Musicals (The Love Parade / The Smiling Lieutenant / One Hour with You / Monte Carlo) (Criterion Collection)

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