Heaven Can Wait Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Heaven Can Wait Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 4, 2018

Nominated for multiple Oscar Awards, Ernst Lubitsch's "Heaven Can Wait" (1943) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage promotional materials for the film; filmed archival conversation between film critics Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by professor William Paul and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked'.

Don't worry, I am doing well.

It is inevitable. Eventually all of us will reach that point where the cycle we have been a part of ends. It always happens -- always. But what’s next? Do we get a chance to enter another cycle, or do we permanently cease to exist? The second possibility sounds depressing. It is the definitive end, and after that there is only the trail that we have left while we were temporarily given the right to exist. The first possibility is actually exciting. What if someone is willing to hear our story before a decision is made whether we go Up or Down? Imagine all the opportunities. Well, actually there really appear to be only two, and a lot of wise folks that have speculated about them over the years have made it pretty clear that it would be in our best interest to avoid the hotter one.

Ernst Lubitsch was one of these speculators and his classic film Heaven Can Wait is a hilarious take on the first possibility. It begins as the elderly aristocrat Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche) enters the lobby of the place where the sinners and saints are separated and calmly steps before the host (Laird Cregar) that must determine the next phase of his journey. Unlike other arrivals, however, Henry turns out to be a very complicated case. Before he passed away he was fair and generous but also an unapologetic playboy with an almost legendary reputation, which is why he is invited to quickly chronicle his life so that he is properly profiled. Convinced that it is only a matter of time before the host pushes the big button on his desk and then dispatches him to a very hot and steamy place Henry begins describing his many triumphs and failures, from the moment when as a boy he attempted to trick his future girlfriend to his final days with the beautiful woman (Gene Tierney) that became his wife. The old man’s recollections do not surprise the host, but his courage not to hold anything back does.

The lightness and humor in Henry’s story are actually quite deceiving because behind them there are plenty of timeless truths about the relationships we pursue during different stages of our lives and how they always end up defining them. One of these truths is that the ‘perfect relationship’ is in fact a never-ending process of compromises that both partners must be willing to make as they recognize each other other’s flaws. Another is that regardless of age the value of honesty never diminishes. And another is that there is never a wrong time to remind your partner that she/he is still the special person that you fell in love with.

The manner in which these truths emerge is what makes the film special. Instead of creating specific situations that support their legitimacy Samson Raphaelson’s brilliant script allows them to casually emerge as Henry interacts with the many important people in his life. Also, age is practically eliminated as a factor that could erode their significance, which is why the final third where Henry begins to reevaluate his life is so moving.

Something else that absolutely needs to be underscored when the film’s brilliance is discussed is its very clever handling of sex. Lubitsch makes certain that its presence is constantly felt, but instead of becoming a risky element of the narrative that could produce undesirable static in the key relationships it actually becomes the catalyst behind some of the best material in the entire film. Given the time period and its morality standards, the end result is indeed absolutely brilliant.

*In 1978, Warren Beatty and Buck Henry made another film with the exact same title, but it is unrelated to Lubitsch’s classic screwball comedy.

Heaven Can Wait Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ernst Lubitsch's Heaven Can Wait arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the leaflet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital restoration was undertaken by Twentieth Century Fox and the Academy Film Archive in collaboration with The Film Foundation. The new 4K digital transfer was created on a Northlight film scanner at Modern VideoFilm in Burbank, California, from a 35mm color reversal internegative (CRI) made from three-strip nitrate original camera negatives (the best surviving element for the film). The image restoration, addressing dirt, scratches, misregistration, and color breathing, was also performed at Modern VideoFilm. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from a 35mmmagnetic track and a 35mm soundtrack negative.

Transfer supervisors: Schawn Belston/Twentieth Century Fox, Los Angeles; Michael Pogorzelski/Academy Film Archive, Los Angeles.
Colorist: Gregg Garvin/Modern VideoFilm, Bunrbank, CA.
Audio restoration: John Polito/Audio Mechanics, Burbank, CA."

It is easy to tell that the end result isn't optimal because density is not at the proper levels that access to the OCN would have ensured. In the area of color reproduction balance also isn't optimal because in a perfect world color registration would have delivered superior ranges of nuances, which in return would have improved delineation and in some cases even shadow definition. Given the nature of the existing element that was used for the restoration, however, it is virtually impossible to be disappointed with the current technical presentation of the film. In fact, many properly lit close-ups boast very good delineation and clarity. During indoor footage image balance is also greatly improved (see screencaptures #3 and 5). Native limitations are typically noticeable during group scenes where depth and fluidity suffer and the visuals become 'thicker' (see screencapture #17). There are no traces of problematic degraining and sharpening adjustments, so if you project your films you are still going to see a very strong organic appearance, but with the source limitations that the restoration retains. All in all, the Blu-ray release still represents a strong upgrade in quality over the previous DVD release of the film, so you should not hesitate to upgrade it. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Heaven Can Wait Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is stable and promoting a good range of dynamics. Understandably, depth and nuances are modest, but these are native characteristics of the original sound design. There are no pops, cracks, audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in our review.

Heaven Can Wait Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and 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.
  
  1. 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).
  
  2. 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 -
  
  1. Trailer - original vintage trailer for Heaven Can Wait. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).
  
  2. Gallery - a collection of original publicity stills for the film supplied by Twentieth Century Fox. (1080p).
  
  3. Press Book - original pressbook for the film supplied by Nicola Lubitsch.

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring author and professor of film studies William Paul's essay "The Simple Act of Living" and technical credits.

Heaven Can Wait Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In the real world men like Don Ameches' character are often described as unreliable and deeply flawed, and usually they turn out to be far better human beings than their principled critics. It is true. It is just that it takes some time before this becomes obvious. This is one of many such interesting truths that emerges in Ernst Lubitsch's classic Heaven Can Wait, which is why all these years later it remains a fascinating film to deconstruct. Criterion's upcoming release is sourced from a good 4K restoration that will likely remain the definitive presentation of the film. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.