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For Heaven's Sake (1950 film)
Encyclopedia
For Heaven's Sake is a 1950
fantasy film
starring Clifton Webb
as an angel
trying to save the marriage of a couple played by Joan Bennett
and Robert Cummings
. It was adapted from the play May We Come In? by Harry Segall
.
) try to convince a young cherub
named Item (Gigi Perreau
) to stop waiting to be born to Lydia (Joan Bennett) and Jeff Bolton (Robert Cummings). They are too busy acting in and directing plays respectively to start a family. They are also drifting apart, as Lydia wants to have a child, but Jeff convinces her to put their careers first.
When Item proves adamant, Charles decides (after seeing Gary Cooper
in The Westerner) to help matters along by taking human form as "Slim" Charles, a supposedly rich Texan, and bumping into the Boltons at the racetrack. Jeff sees a potential financial backer (an "angel" in theatrical slang) for his next play. He gets his playwright, Daphne Peters (Joan Blondell
), to try to convince Charles to invest in the production. Since Charles actually doesn't have any money, this proves awkward. However, Jeff's usual backer, Tex Henry (Harry von Zell
), shows up. Tex and Charles draw cards to see who will get to put up the money; Tex also makes a side bet of $10,000. Fortunately for Charles, Tex wins.
All this starts to corrupt Charles. He begins to enjoy human vices. When Daphne's former actor boyfriend, Tony Clark (Jack La Rue
), shows up to reclaim his uninterested girlfriend, Charles punches him. Charles also starts drinking and playing modern music (on his harp), much to Arthur's disapproval.
Still, Charles hasn't completely forgotten his mission. He arranges a lavish party to celebrate the Bolton's eighth anniversary, but that doesn't work as planned. The Boltons decide to break up, and Charles is taken to the mental hospital when he admits that he is an angel. Luckily, when Lydia develops a sudden craving for peanuts, when she could never before even stand the smell of them, Jeff realizes that she is pregnant (with Item), and they reconcile.
1950 in film
The year 1950 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 15 - Walt Disney Studios' animated film Cinderella debuts.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:*Ambush...
fantasy film
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
starring Clifton Webb
Clifton Webb
Clifton Webb was an American actor, dancer, and singer known for his Oscar-nominated roles in such films as Laura, The Razor's Edge, and Sitting Pretty...
as an angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
trying to save the marriage of a couple played by Joan Bennett
Joan Bennett
Joan Geraldine Bennett was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era...
and Robert Cummings
Robert Cummings
Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings , mostly known professionally as Robert Cummings but sometimes as Bob Cummings, was an American film and television actor....
. It was adapted from the play May We Come In? by Harry Segall
Harry Segall
Harry Segall was an American playwright, screenwriter and television writer.Segall was born in Chicago....
.
Plot
Angels Charles (Clifton Webb) and Arthur (Edmund GwennEdmund Gwenn
Edmund Gwenn was an English theatre and film actor.-Background:Born Edmund John Kellaway in Wandsworth, London , and educated at St. Olave's School and later at King's College London, Gwenn began his acting career in the theatre in 1895...
) try to convince a young cherub
Cherub
A cherub is a type of spiritual being mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and cited later on in the Christian biblical canons, usually associated with the presence of God...
named Item (Gigi Perreau
Gigi Perreau
Gigi Perreau, , is an American actress.-Biography:She achieved success as a child actress in a number of films. She played the daughter of Claude Rains and Bette Davis's characters in the 1944 film Mr. Skeffington. In Shadow on the Wall , she starred as the sole witness to a murder...
) to stop waiting to be born to Lydia (Joan Bennett) and Jeff Bolton (Robert Cummings). They are too busy acting in and directing plays respectively to start a family. They are also drifting apart, as Lydia wants to have a child, but Jeff convinces her to put their careers first.
When Item proves adamant, Charles decides (after seeing Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper
Frank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
in The Westerner) to help matters along by taking human form as "Slim" Charles, a supposedly rich Texan, and bumping into the Boltons at the racetrack. Jeff sees a potential financial backer (an "angel" in theatrical slang) for his next play. He gets his playwright, Daphne Peters (Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
), to try to convince Charles to invest in the production. Since Charles actually doesn't have any money, this proves awkward. However, Jeff's usual backer, Tex Henry (Harry von Zell
Harry von Zell
Harry von Zell , born in Indianapolis, made his mark as an announcer of radio programs and an actor in films and television shows....
), shows up. Tex and Charles draw cards to see who will get to put up the money; Tex also makes a side bet of $10,000. Fortunately for Charles, Tex wins.
All this starts to corrupt Charles. He begins to enjoy human vices. When Daphne's former actor boyfriend, Tony Clark (Jack La Rue
Jack La Rue
Jack La Rue was an American film and stage actor.Born as Gaspere Biondolillo, he worked on the New York stage from 1923 to 1931. He moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films...
), shows up to reclaim his uninterested girlfriend, Charles punches him. Charles also starts drinking and playing modern music (on his harp), much to Arthur's disapproval.
Still, Charles hasn't completely forgotten his mission. He arranges a lavish party to celebrate the Bolton's eighth anniversary, but that doesn't work as planned. The Boltons decide to break up, and Charles is taken to the mental hospital when he admits that he is an angel. Luckily, when Lydia develops a sudden craving for peanuts, when she could never before even stand the smell of them, Jeff realizes that she is pregnant (with Item), and they reconcile.
Cast
- Clifton WebbClifton WebbClifton Webb was an American actor, dancer, and singer known for his Oscar-nominated roles in such films as Laura, The Razor's Edge, and Sitting Pretty...
- Joan BennettJoan BennettJoan Geraldine Bennett was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era...
- Robert CummingsRobert CummingsCharles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings , mostly known professionally as Robert Cummings but sometimes as Bob Cummings, was an American film and television actor....
- Edmund GwennEdmund GwennEdmund Gwenn was an English theatre and film actor.-Background:Born Edmund John Kellaway in Wandsworth, London , and educated at St. Olave's School and later at King's College London, Gwenn began his acting career in the theatre in 1895...
- Joan BlondellJoan BlondellRose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
- Gigi PerreauGigi PerreauGigi Perreau, , is an American actress.-Biography:She achieved success as a child actress in a number of films. She played the daughter of Claude Rains and Bette Davis's characters in the 1944 film Mr. Skeffington. In Shadow on the Wall , she starred as the sole witness to a murder...
- Jack La RueJack La RueJack La Rue was an American film and stage actor.Born as Gaspere Biondolillo, he worked on the New York stage from 1923 to 1931. He moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films...
- Harry von ZellHarry von ZellHarry von Zell , born in Indianapolis, made his mark as an announcer of radio programs and an actor in films and television shows....
- Tommy RettigTommy RettigThomas Noel "Tommy" Rettig was an American child actor,computer software engineer, and author. Rettig is best remembered for portraying the character "Jeff Miller" in the first three seasons of CBS's Lassie television series, from 1954–1957, later seen in syndicated re-runs as Jeff's Collie...