Heaven Can Wait, (actor, writer, co-director, producer) Warren Beatty, 1978.
Great cast: the hilarious Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon in possibly her funniest
part ever, the always wonderful Jack Warden, his former long time lover Julie
Christie and the legendary James Mason.
Story is about an aging football player (Joe Pendleton - Warren Beatty) who
has one last chance, after a long injury, to take part in the Super Bowl but
unfortunately dies prematurely (that being the operative word here, since he
wasn't supposed to die yet).
The head angel (Mason) says Joe has to be put back in his body, but that's
cremated. So they put him in another body and a hilarious and touching story
evolves, while Joe - in his new body - finds romance and still tries to get in
shape for the Super Bowl.
My YouTube blurb:
Heaven Can Wait, the charming 1978 remake of Here comes Mr. Jordan
(1941), is a sweet tragicomedy that enabled Warren Beatty (lead actor,
co-writer, co-director, producer) to fulfill his cinematic dream three years
later when he took on all four roles again with his outstanding movie "Reds".
As with most of his movies, Beatty managed to surround himself with a
cast of the utmost quality, talent and charisma and in doing so, assured
himself of a box-office hit.
The story is about life and death and how love transcends death. In the
1941 movie, the lead character Joe Pendleton was a boxer and Beatty
had originally planned to have his friend Muhammad Ali play that role.
Ali's schedule did not allow it, so Beatty altered the script and turned
the lead into an American football player, a sport he excelled at in his
youth, taking on the role himself. The cast included co-director Buck
Henry as the bumbling escort, James Mason as Mr. Jordan the way
station executive, Dyan Cannon and Charles Grodin as the scheming
wife and personal secretary, Julie Christie as the activist/love-interest
and the always excellent Jack Warden as football coach Max Corkle.
Vincent Gardenia completes the wonderful ensemble with a guest
appearance as the police inspector. All actors are in fine form, especially
veteran Jack Warden. Beatty is at his charming and disarming best.
Deadpan seems invented by Grodin and Dyan Cannon has never been
better. Warden, Mason and Cannon were nominated for Oscars for their
supporting roles, Beatty was nominated in four categories: lead actor,
screenplay, director and producer.
In 2001 Chris Rock gave the subject another try with a third remake
"Down To Earth" that couldn't hold up to its much better predecessors.
^This is a place that comes after life, and after dreams......
^My name is Joe!
^Do you know how people die?
)
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