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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»1970s Movies»Movies 1978
    Movies 1978 Movies H 2 Mins Read

    Heaven Can Wait (1978)

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    When the Heavenly Authorities decide that Joe Pendleton’s life as a pro football quarterback for the LA Rams was ended prematurely he finds himself sent back to Earth – but reincarnated as a millionaire with a murderous wife more dangerous than any football tackle he had endured in his previous life.

    Warren Beatty co-directs and stars as the football player accidentally selected to die after a car accident.

    heavencanwait5

    Realising he has been called before his time, Joe bargains with celestial middle manager “Mr Jordan” (James Mason) and gets the chance to live again but in someone else’s body – since his has already been cremated.

    Joe is sent back to Earth as Leo Farnsworth, a ruthless, super-rich industrialist and uses his new body’s resources to buy the Rams so he can still play for the team.

    The delightful storyline also involves Joe’s beloved coach, Max (Jack Warden), Farnsworth’s conniving wife, Julia (Dyan Cannon) and assistant (Charles Grodin), and the beautiful activist Betty Logan (Julie Christie), who is campaigning against Farnsworth’s ecologically damaging business practices.

    Beatty’s undeniable charm was a perfect fit for this gentle, witty update of Here Comes Mr Jordan (1941), and Dyan Cannon and Charles Grodin are a scream.

    The film became a massive hit, landing at #5 on the list of the year’s top-grossing films at the US box office and earning a slew of Oscar nominations.

    Joe Pendleton/Leo Farnsworth
    Warren Beatty
    Betty Logan
    Julie Christie
    Mr Jordan
    James Mason
    Max Corkle
    Jack Warden
    Tony Abbott
    Charles Grodin
    Julia Farnsworth
    Dyan Cannon
    Escort
    Buck Henry
    Krim
    Vincent Gardenia
    Sisk
    Joseph Maher
    Bentley
    Hamilton Camp
    Everett
    Arthur Malet
    Corinne
    Stephanie Faracy
    Lavinia
    Jeannie Linero
    Gardener
    Harry D K Wong
    Peters
    Larry Block
    Conway
    Frank Campanella
    Tomarken
    Bill Sorrells
    Haitian ambassador
    Joseph K Makel
    Oppenheim
    Keene Curtis
    Renfield
    William Larsen
    Middleton
    Morgan Farley
    Lawson
    William Bogert

    Director
    Warren Beatty
    Buck Henry

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