katyscar11ett Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 - TCM played Heaven Can Wait I believe it was last week - and then showed Angel on my Shoulder right after it. Robert Osborne talked about how the first movie was about a man going to heaven prematurely and meeting angels, while the other was about going to hell and meeting the devil. He even mentioned how Claude Rains played the devil and how he played the head angel in the earlier version of Heaven Can Wait titled Here Comes Mr. Jordan. And I'll betcha Bob O. even asked TCM why they didn't make it a Claude Rains "theme" of playing both the angel and the devil. What on earth would make them show Heaven Can Wait with Warren Beatty? Can you say YUCK! Actually, it isn't even that Heaven Can Wait (not to be confused with the classic by the same title) was sooo bad, it's more that Beatty could never be compared to Bob Montgomery, and James Mason sure isn't any Claude Rains. The 'theme' would have been so perfect had they shown both the classics starring Rains as the angel from heaven and the devil from hell. I know TCM has just acquired a bunch of "newer" movies (mores the pity) - but let's not get carried away, shall we? Use some good thought and judgment, please. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sugarpuss Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 At the moment, Here Comes Mr. Jordan is currently being shown on the Showtime/The Movie Channel/Flix channels. It's owned by Columbia, which means TCM doesn't own it. If they ever show it, it will have to be leased. It would have been great to show both versions though. I love to see various versions of the same movie, just to see a side by side comparison of the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeMilleBuff32 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 So I guess I'm the only one that enjoyed the Chris Rock version... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 it's more that Beatty could never be compared to Bob Montgomery, and James Mason sure isn't any Claude Rains.>> Scarlett, If I am lucky enough to get heaven, having Mr. Jordan (James Mason) there to greet me would be the icing on the cake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackBurley Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 "So I guess I'm the only one that enjoyed the Chris Rock version... I wasn't aware of a Chris Rock version; and I like him. What was it called? I love the Warren Beatty version. I consider it a classic from the 1970's featuring a great cast. Dyan Cannon -- Mrs. Cary Grant -- was underused in movies; Julie Christie is a latter Hollywood goddess; James Mason's voice still enchanting us; and an excellent cast of character actors in support: Jack Warden, Vincent Gardenia, Buck Henry, Charles Grodin... sigh. That said, a pairing of the two Claude Rains movies sounds perfect. Too bad TCM couldn't pull it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutinyetc2 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 How about when Rex Ingram played God or "De Lawd" and then 7 years later played Lucifer Jr.? ;-} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackBurley Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 We have the makings of a theme night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Has anyone seen "Heaven Can Wait"(1943) with Don Ameche, Gene Tierney, Laird Cregar, and Charles Coburn? What are your thoughts on this film compared to the later version? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollywood101 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 > At the moment, Here Comes Mr. Jordan is > currently being shown on the Showtime/The Movie > Channel/Flix channels. It's owned by Columbia, which > means TCM doesn't own it. If they ever show it, it > will have to be leased. > > May not currently be on lease but it's been shown dozens of times on TCM. Aside from the Turner Library, TCM airs more movies from Sony than anybody else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollywood101 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 > - TCM played Heaven Can Wait I believe it was > last week - and then showed Angel on my > Shoulder right after it. > > Actually, it isn't even that Heaven > Can Wait (not to be confused with the classic by > the same title) was sooo bad, it's more that Beatty > could never be compared to Bob Montgomery, and James > Mason sure isn't any Claude Rains. > > Thoughts? Your opinion; don't mistake it for a scientific fact. Personally, I prefer the 1970s version. You might chalk that up to an intense dislike of movies about boxing. Merely my Rs. 10 worth, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeanddaisy666 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 it's been shown dozens of times on TCM Dozens of times? Not in the last two and a half years or I would have taped it. Heaven Can Wait with Don Ameche??? Ack, would I love to see that. I actually liked the Beatty version. He wasn't too smarmy and it wasn't Anime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeMilleBuff32 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 "So I guess I'm the only one that enjoyed the Chris Rock version... I wasn't aware of a Chris Rock version; and I like him. What was it called? Down to Earth (2001) http://imdb.com/title/tt0231775/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackBurley Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 What a melange of movies and titles. The 1970's Heaven Can Wait is not a re-make of the 1940's Heaven Can Wait; yet the 2001 Down to Earth is not a remake of the 1940's Down to Earth, but rather the 1970's Heaven Can Wait. Who can keep up? Thanks, DeMilleBuff! (Does your appellation refer to Agnes or Cecil or both?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeMilleBuff32 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Cecil, of course! Never been much of a dance-man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollywood101 Posted July 14, 2006 Share Posted July 14, 2006 > it's been shown dozens of times on TCM > > Dozens of times? Not in the last two and a half years > or I would have taped it. > Played frequently in the late 90s/early 00s, and was usually in the Oscars month lineup as well, especially when the movies were grouped by awards category. I watched it in whole or part several times. It was something I remembered from seeing on a local TV station, back in the late 50s. I don't recall this being in the Montgomery SOTM program early this year, which is why I hedged on whether the license was current. Evidently it has expired. I doubt that Sony leases out their movies on 40-year loans like Hallmark did with the Roaches, and Jordan was probably at TCM for a stay of about 5 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katyscar11ett Posted July 14, 2006 Author Share Posted July 14, 2006 TZ, congrats on 1,000 posts. I just knew when I posted that mesage that I'd hear from some James Mason fans. ;-) I have really been trying to get to like him and I know he's been in some good movies. But I still have a really bad taste from Lolita, which I hated, and found him disgusting. Yeah, I know it was only a movie role - but I have had a hard time liking him, nonetheless. And NOBODY beats Claude Rains for me - even people I really like. So, biased I likely am. But I seriously do find it hard to say Beatty is as good as Montgomery or Mason as good as Rains. Again, it's personal taste and opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandykaypax Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 Just to clear up the confusion--the Don Ameche HEAVEN CAN WAIT is nothing like the Warren Beatty version--different plots, same title. The Warren Beatty HEAVEN CAN WAIT is a remake of the Robert Montgomery film HERE COMES MR. JORDAN. BTW, I have seen the Ameche HEAVEN CAN WAIT and I remember thinking it was very charming. It stars Ameche as a womanizing husband and Gene Tierney as his suffering wife. From what I remember, Ameche's character has been sent to hell, but is given a chance to shape up. Sandy K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOOMANYNOTES Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 ; Message was edited by: TOOMANYNOTES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarboManiac Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 Now, come on TOOMANY! Don't be shy. Just step right up to the microphone and say what you think! B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOOMANYNOTES Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 ; Message was edited by: TOOMANYNOTES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erzbet Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I've had the pleasure of seeing HEAVEN CAN WAIT with Don Ameche and Gene Tierney at least a dozen times -- and its charming as all get out with each viewing. Also, the supporting players are a hoot. It is perfection - pure and simple - and that says it all. Hollywood remakes don't cut it for me because they can't begin to conjur up the romance and sly wit of the original film. Hope you get to see it one day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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