For Heaven's Sake
                                   
Director: George Seaton
Year: 1950
Rating: 7.0
It doesn't get much more cornball than this but it weaved its way into my happy zone. It is kind of a creepy idea though certainly not meant to be and probably very popular with Pro-Life folks. Supreme Court Justice Alito showed this film as evidence in his ruling. No, it is not about abortion but instead it is about . . . well let me tell the story. It has a wonderful cast with Clifton Webb leading the way as sort of a Mr. Belvedere type from Heaven. He and another angel in the form of Edmund Gwenn, who is even more kindly and sweet than he was in Miracle on 34th Street, are on a mission  - to get a girl born.


 

Webb's angel is more what we expect from Clifton Webb - a little snitty, impatient and sarcastic. Gwenn keeps telling him that he can't be sarcastic - the Higher Ups don't like it. Sort of like Facebook doesn't like sarcasm as I found out again last week when I was banned for the eighth time - all for sarcasm except the time I called someone a nitwit after they called me a fascist. The nitwit was not meant in sarcasm. This time after a friend posted "Why would the Secret Service protecting Pence have deleted their texts?" to which I commented "Unless they texted I hope they hang Mike Pence". 30 days hard labor. I hate FB. Where was I? Ah, the movie - I just needed to get that off my chest here since I can't on FB.

 

So follow this if you can. A girl is sort of a pre-angel. She is waiting to be born. But first the couple she has attached herself to need to have a baby. She has been waiting eight years and is the size of an eight year old. The couple are Bob Cummings and Joan Bennett and they have decided to devote their lives to the theater - he as a director, she as an actress. So no time for whoopie. No interest in whoopie. Just no whoopie. So our angels in co-operation with the little girl have to figure out how to get them horny and have sex. This little girl isn't the only one - there are all these angelish children hanging out waiting for their future folks to get it on.



You could make a good horror movie with this idea. But this is a sweet comedy that lands a bunch of gentle jabs. To push things along, Webb takes on human form as a wealthy cowboy after studying Gary Cooper. And finds out he likes it. Especially when Joan Blondell sits next to him and makes cozy. He tells Gwynn "I felt a tingling". I bet you did. Not that Clifton Webb ever felt tingling around any woman. When the couple finally get that urge the camera just stays on our three angels grinning in delight while the orchestra rises to a climax and then slowly subsides. Two minutes. It's true I guess what they say about most men.


 
The little girl is played by Gigi Perreau who has nearly 90 credits - the last a couple of years ago. The wonderful Harry von Zell shows up - if the name isn't familiar he plays George's business manager on the Burns and Allen shows. I love him in that but this is the first time I have seen him in a movie. Charles Lane plays the IRS agent, Walt Bissell is the doctor in the mental institution and Jack La Rue is the tough guy actor who trades tough guy movie clichés with Webb. Directed by George Seaton. If you ever want some cornpone, come and get it.