Heaven Can Wait

Synopsis
When L.A. Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton (Beatty) is plucked from Earth too soon by an overzealous angel, he is sent back to Earth in another, older body. He struggles to regain his old spot in the line-up while straightening out his host's tangled affairs. Based not on the 1943 movie of the same name, but on 1941's Here Comes Mr. Jordan. Academy Award Nominations: 9, including Best Picture, Best Actor: Warren Beatty, Best Director: Beatty/Henry, Best Adapted Screenplay: Elaine May/Warren Beatty.

Production Notes
Co-directors Buck Henry and Warren Beatty both made their film directing debuts with "Heaven Can Wait."

Remake of "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941), directed by Alexander Hall.

Shot in California, with Movielab color, Panavision equipment. Released in USA June 28, 1978.

Other cast members included Frank Campanella; Larry Block (Peters); Dick Enberg (The Interviewer); Ed V. Peck (Trainer); Deacon Jones and Curt Gowdy (TV Commentator).

Titles by Wayne Fitzgerald; sound effects editor Dick Oswald; music editor Milton Lustig.

"Sonata #3" by Handel performed by Paul Brodie and Antonin Kubalek.

Reviews
"...HEAVEN CAN WAIT is an outstanding film....[The] entire cast is excellent....[The] script and direction are very strong, providing a rich mix of visual and verbal humor..." (Variety)

"...A kind of earnest cheerfulness that is sometimes most winning....[Beatty and Christie create] characters of import..." (New York Times)