Heaven Can Wait

1943 · 112 MIN · IMDB 7.3 · 12,777 VOTES · DIR. Ernst Lubitsch

Heaven Can Wait poster

Overview

Spoiled playboy Henry van Cleve dies and arrives at the entrance to Hell, a final destination he is sure he deserves after living a life of profligacy. The devil, however, isn't so sure Henry meets Hell's standards. Convinced he is where he belongs, Henry recounts his life's deeds, both good and bad, including an act of indiscretion during his 25-year marriage to his wife, Martha, with the hope that "His Excellency" will arrive at the proper judgment.

Dialogue Timeline — 1,799 lines

A SAMPLE ACROSS THE RUNTIME — EVERY LINE IS SEARCHABLE

00:02:10 - How do you do, Mr. Van Cleve? - Good afternoon, Your Excellency.
00:06:27 But I must admit you're beginning to interest me, Mr. Van Cleve.
00:10:42 Here, my last employer— Baroness Lalotte...
00:15:02 Time of bicycle. The typewriter has arrivé. Soon everybody speak over the telephone.
00:19:36 - Don't be harsh. - I'm sorry if I seem to have lost my temper, but the occasion is a trying one.
00:23:59 Where does he get it from? Nobody in our family was musical.
00:28:33 All you think about is having what you call a good time.
00:32:19 - I hear the Strable family— - We couldn't ask anything better for our Albert.
00:37:04 I would like to see a — Are there no women clerks?
00:41:10 Don't you worry. After all, I'm taking you for better or for worse.
00:46:15 Oh, why did you ever come into my life?
00:50:46 I did my schoolwork, brushed my teeth every morning.
00:56:40 Boss...
01:00:28 and I have excellent reason to believe that the party—
01:06:00 On the contrary, I can say there were moments in my marriage...
01:10:18 but it's something much more important than my birthday.
01:14:20 - How many people are lucky enough to have the thrill of eloping twice in one marriage? - That's it! That's it!
01:19:51 I'm sure it's a waste of time to talk of the past...
01:24:12 If he's ever going to have any fun, now's the time. Don't spoil it.
01:27:53 Tell me, isn't she a Follies girl famous for coming down a staircase?
01:32:10 Nothing. I just want to take a little rest.
01:36:11 we'll both live to celebrate our golden anniversary.
01:41:15 You know, someone with a pleasant voice, nice diction.
01:46:44 The girl held her arms out to me...

Cast & Characters

Dialogue Record

Lines indexed1,799
Dialogue density16.1 lines / min
First line00:02:10
Final line01:46:44

Production Record

DirectorErnst Lubitsch
LanguageEnglish
IMDb votes12,777