'Heaven' and 'The Lubitsch Touch'

If anyone knew how to make a comedy with a lot of class, it was director Ernst Lubitsch. There is something magical, something that resonates in his films that earned the merit of "The Lubitsch Touch." "Heaven Can Wait" is one of those films.\nThe film's title card reads "As Henry Van Cleve's soul passed over the Great Divide, he realized that it was extremely unlikely that his next stop could be Heaven. And so, philosophically, he presented himself where innumerable people had so often told him to go." Henry Van Cleve (Don Ameche) finds himself at the gates of hell and engaged in conversation with His Excellency (Laird Cregar). Van Cleve is almost certain that his life of being a captivating Casanova surely justifies that he be admitted into the underworld, but the devil just isn't convinced. Van Cleve then takes it upon himself to tell the devil about all the women he loved over the years and most importantly his wife Martha (Gene Tierney), whom he loved dearly despite his philandering ways. \nNot to be confused with the Warren Beatty film of the same name, "Heaven Can Wait" is one of those wonderful comedies from World War II America with a lot of humor and heart. Much like the work of Preston Sturges, Lubitsch comedies have a sophistication to the humor being presented. Ameche has class written all over him with a romantic attitude that would make any woman swoon. Tierney is just gorgeous and her role only becomes more effective as her character ages. But, at times, it is Charles Coburn as Grandpa Hugo Van Cleve who provides enough wit to keep the laughs coming. And watching all of this unfold in beautiful Technicolor makes the film that much more enjoyable.\nThe extras on this release are definitely of an interesting mix. A video conversation between critics Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris brings an amusing look back at a classic film. There are also plenty of original press materials and home piano recordings of Lubitsch playing away. The main focus on extras is that of Samson Raphaelson, screenwriter for many of Lubitsch's films, there is a 30-minute documentary on his life and an audio seminar of interviews/Q&A from 1977. The DVD is rounded out with an essay from film scholar William Paul which is standard fair for any Criterion Collection release. \nI would recommend "Heaven Can Wait" to anyone wanting a taste of classic romantic comedy or even better a look at the work of Ernst Lubitsch. It is a delightful gem of a movie, one that contains the perfect mix of wit and charm to keep your attention and more importantly your laughter coming.