# I just rewatched Heaven Can Wait (1978) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [March 19, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087 "2014-03-19T16:04:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reindeer_flotilla/32/3024_2.png) [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reindeer_Flotilla)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/41 "2019-01-24T20:29:14Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Whoah, that’s just crazy talk. It’s the best NFL film I have ever seen with all the ins and outs nuances about the running of an NFL team, etc. > > It was especially compelling when the movie took a dramatic turn towards…ah, it can wait. > > Batesville Casket Company in the heezy! Off-topic pointless trivia: [Batesville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batesville,_Indiana) is a small town (pop. ~6,500) in southeastern Indiana roughly halfway between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Nice little German-American village in the middle of all those Indiana cornfields, and they have a casket company in which Harry S Truman, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Regan, Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, Wilt Chamberlain, Farrah Fawcett, Fred Astaire, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, etc. are all buried. And Leo Farnsworth too, apparently. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reindeer_flotilla/32/3024_2.png) [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reindeer_Flotilla)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/42 "2019-01-24T20:44:29Z")
> [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](#): > > Off-topic pointless trivia: [Batesville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batesville,_Indiana) is a small town (pop. ~6,500) in southeastern Indiana roughly halfway between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Nice little German-American village in the middle of all those Indiana cornfields, and they have a casket company in which Harry S Truman, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Regan, Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, Wilt Chamberlain, Farrah Fawcett, Fred Astaire, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, etc. are all buried. > > And Leo Farnsworth too, apparently. 🙂 Wow, how hard is it to spell Ronald Reagan’s name? :smack: Might as well add Aretha Franklin and James Brown to the list of customers while I’m here. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/43 "2019-01-24T21:46:18Z")
I mentioned Batesville Casket Company because their slogan on their trucks is “Drive safely…Heaven can wait!” I don’t live too far from Batesville, and I have been there many times. The town is practically owned by the Hillenbrand family, an extremely wealthy and conservative family that owns controlling interest in both Batesville Casket Company and Hill-Rom (hospital beds, related accessories). They are the largest manufacturers of their respective products on the planet. Fun fact: in the USA, it’s very likely you’ll be born on a Hill-Rom hospital bed, get sick and die on one, then get buried in a Batesville Casket. Cradle to grave business model! And yes, the Hillenbrand family is VERY proud of the celebrities that are buried in their caskets but I think the Reagans were buried in similar mahogany caskets made by Marsellus, a now defunct casket company. ---
**Author:** ![mundylion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundylion/32/3604_2.png) [@mundylion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mundylion)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/44 "2019-01-24T22:19:21Z")
I wonder if Jason Gay, columnist for the Wall Street Journal is a Doper? He has a column on superbowl quarterbacks today that is all about this movie. Is it streamable? ---
**Author:** ![Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reindeer_flotilla/32/3024_2.png) [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reindeer_Flotilla)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/45 "2019-01-24T22:45:42Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > And yes, the Hillenbrand family is VERY proud of the celebrities that are buried in their caskets but I think the Reagans were buried in similar mahogany caskets made by Marsellus, ABC news reported during Jackson’s funeral that [Ronald Reagan was also buried in a Batesville casket](https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=8047534&page=1), but I read where Nancy was buried in a Marsellus. Not sure of the accuracy of ABC’s reporting, as Batesville doesn’t publicly (at least overtly) advertise their customers for dignity’s sake. > [@](#): > > …Marsellus, a now defunct casket company. Batesville Casket owns them now, or at least their name and/or their product line. Not sure of the timeline, so with all the uncertainty clearly I can’t refute your claim! 🙂 To veer this discussion slightly back on track, I saw _Heavan Can Wait_ in a second-run theater in '78-'79 and now after reading this thread I really want to revisit it! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/46 "2019-01-25T01:22:06Z")
> [@mundylion](#): > > I wonder if Jason Gay, columnist for the Wall Street Journal is a Doper? He has a column on superbowl quarterbacks today that is all about this movie… Here’s the WSJ interview with Beatty: [https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-talk-with-legendary-rams-quarterback-warren-beatty-11548264061](https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-talk-with-legendary-rams-quarterback-warren-beatty-11548264061) ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/47 "2019-01-26T16:39:20Z")
> [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](#): > > Off-topic pointless trivia: Nice little German-American village in the middle of all those Indiana cornfields, and they have a casket company in which Harry S Truman, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Regan, Gerald Ford, Bob Hope, Wilt Chamberlain, Farrah Fawcett, Fred Astaire, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, etc. are all buried. > > And Leo Farnsworth too, apparently. 🙂 That would have to be the creepiest company to work in with all those people buried there. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/48 "2019-01-26T20:28:03Z")
I saw this when it first came out and loved it at roughly the age of 17. Every time I have a chance to see it on television I enjoy it although sometimes it’s chopped to pieces. The writing, performances and editing are absolutely spectacular. I always cry at the ending. Watching the two of them on screen is like watching Woody Allen with Diane Keaton on screen. " I know you. " " I know ". 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/49 "2019-01-26T20:48:25Z")
“Here. Hold my hand. It’s going to be ok.” ---
**Author:** ![Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reindeer_flotilla/32/3024_2.png) [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reindeer_Flotilla)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/50 "2019-01-30T21:22:00Z")
> [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](#): > > That would have to be the creepiest company to work in with all those people buried there. Ha, touché, **Disgruntled Penguin**! You better believe Batesville keeps its 245 trioxin securely stored. Louisville is still in everyone’s memory. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/51 "2019-01-30T22:12:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I actually preferred it to the original film _[Here Comes Mr Jordan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_Mr._Jordan)_; Beatty and Mason really make the film work. Grodin and Cannon are a bit goofy for my taste but it does generally hold up. Yeah, the original was much more heartfelt to me. The Warren Beatty version felt superficial in comparison to me. Didn’t care for Beatty in the role, either. But I’m a Robert Montgomery fan, so maybe that explains my preference. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/52 "2019-01-30T22:15:23Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I actually preferred it to the original film _[Here Comes Mr Jordan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_Mr._Jordan)_; Put me in this category as well. I loved it when it came out and find that much of it’s story, acting and production values hold up today. IMO, still a fantastic movie. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/53 "2019-02-01T04:01:30Z")
I mentioned the unrelated Heaven Can Wait earlier with Don Ameche that I like so much…hell, I even love the Meatloaf song. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2019, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/54 "2019-02-01T04:23:38Z")
Whenever Brady or another top QB gets sacked, I always say, “Sorry, Mr. Farnsworth.” Love the film. Good time to watch it too! ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/55 "2022-06-12T07:05:06Z")
Sorry to double-post and resurrect at the same time, but I’m re-watching Beatty’s version again and I have to say, if there’s really a deity out there and I meet it, it should look and sound like James Mason. As Roger Ebert said in his review, Mason, “ who somehow needs no preparation for this particular role…” 😁🕶 Dyan Cannon and Charles Gordon are priceless and the look on Jack’s face when Farnsworth (Pendleton) plays his sax is beyond how good it should look. 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/56 "2022-06-12T18:15:26Z")
How nervous will Warren Beatty be when March 20, 2025, rolls around? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/57 "2022-06-12T18:42:03Z")
I think the same could be said for the original. Claude Rains was perfect as Mr. Jordan. > **[Here Comes Mr. Jordan | Cast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_Mr._Jordan#Cast)** > > 1.Robert Montgomery as Joe Pendleton | > 2.Evelyn Keyes as Bette Logan | > 3.Claude Rains as Mr. Jordan | > 4.Rita Johnson as Julia Farnsworth | > 5.Edward Everett Horton as Messenger 7013 | > 6.James Gleason as Max "Pop" Corkle | > 7.John Emery as Tony Abbott | > 8.Donald MacBride as Insp. Williams | > 9.Don Costello as Lefty | > 10.Halliwell Hobbes as Sisk | > 11.Benny Rubin as "Bugsy" (the handler) | > 12.Lloyd Bridges as Mr. Sloan, the co-pilot | > 13.Eddie Bruce as Reporter | > 14.John Ince as Bill Colle... ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/58 "2022-06-12T19:53:59Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I think the same could be said for the original. Claude Rains was perfect as Mr. Jordan I’m now imagining swapping Claude Rains and James Mason in each of their roles _ever_, and I see no problem. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/59 "2022-06-12T20:00:51Z")
They are both great character actors, I do think that would work. I do wonder if Mason would lack a little as Capt Renault, but I can’t think of another where it would be an issue. Weird one, I don’t think Rains would have been as good as Mason as Capt Nemo. So there we go, they can’t exchange Captains but anything else. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087/60 "2022-06-12T20:14:00Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > How nervous will Warren Beatty be when March 20, 2025, rolls around?- He probably thinks this movie is about him. [https://youtu.be/cleCtBP0o5Y](https://youtu.be/cleCtBP0o5Y) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-rewatched-heaven-can-wait-1978/684087.md?page=4)