Heaven Can Wait
Comedy, Romance
Paramount Pictures  (1978) 101 mins PG

6.8 (6,508 votes)
An overanxious guardian angel plucks pro quarterback Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) from his body just prior to a horrific accident thinking that he is sparing him the horrors of a painful death. But, as Joe is informed by Mr. Jordan (James Mason) when he arrives in the afterlife, he actually would have survived the crash as it was not yet his time to die. When Joe demands that they rectify their mistake, they agree to let him take the body of Leo Farnsworth, a millionaire who has just been murdered by his cheating wife, Julia (Dyan Cannon), and her lover, Tony Abbot (Charles Grodin). While Joe is again among the living, things are not easy. Julia and Tony are still intent on getting rid of him, Farnsworth’s old and out-of shape body is in no condition to return to pro ball, and he finds himself falling for activist Betty Logan (Julie Christie) who has her own beef with Farnsworth. But Jo...

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Cast and Crew
Warren Beatty  ......  Joe Pendleton
Julie Christie  ......  Betty Logan
James Mason  ......  Mr. Jordan
Jack Warden  ......  Max Corkle
Charles Grodin  ......  Tony Abbott
Dyan Cannon  ......  Julia Farnsworth
Director  .....  Warren Beatty; Buck Henry
Producer  .....  Warren Beatty; Hawk Koch
Writer  .....  Warren Beatty; Elaine May; Harry Segall
Notes
Goofs:
Continuity: In Farnsworth's study while Betty Logan is talking to Tony Abbott, she folds her petition and places it in her briefcase. A few moments later when the camera returns to her, she is holding the petition in front of her. Then, towards the end of the scene, the petition is no longer in her hands (we suppose back in her briefcase). (more)

Trivia:
In this movie the Rams play the Steelers in the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl in the season following this movie's release featured the Steelers against the Rams. (more)

Filming Locations:
Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA (more)

Quotes:
Mr. Jordan: He's been drugged by those two downstairs. This is a murder. See how he's slowly sliding into the water? (more)

Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations (more)