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Heaven Can Wait
The play on which the motion picture, Here comes Mr. Jordan, was based.
"Copyright, 1942, by Jed Harris (revised) ... copyright, 1938, by Harry Segall (under the title, It was like this)"
Also the motion picture, Heaven Can Wait 1978.
Mr. Jordan is checking passengers who are to depart in an airplane for the Hereafter. The routine is interrupted by the arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he is dead and induces Jordan to look up the "records," which reveal that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years! But, as Joe starts to return to earth to continue his fighting, word reaches Heaven that Max Levene, Joe's manager, thinking he had been killed, had Joe's body cremated, and Joe has no body to return to. Jordan promises to find Joe another body and is informed that the wealthy Jonathan Farnsworth is about to be murdered by his wife. So Joe suddenly finds himself in the home of the financier, visible as Joe to the audience but apparently as Farnsworth to Mrs. Farnsworth, and the public. The comedy begins when the pompous "Farnsworth" unaccountably goes into training as a fighter. In addition, "Farnsworth" decides to share his wealth and right the wrong "he" did to charming Bette Logan's father. Bette, having despised Farnsworth, finds herself falling in love with him and he with her. Just as Joe (still in Farnsworth's body) is about to get a chance to become a fighter, Jordan reports that Farnsworth does not approve of Joe's treatment of his body (and money) and is raising a fuss to have it back. While deciding on another body for Joe, Jordan receives a flash that K.O. Murdock, the champion, has been mysteriously shot. As K.O. is about to be counted out Jordan transfers Joe's spirit into the body of K.O. in time to have K.O. remain champ. There are still problems to be straightened out when Joe really becomes Murdock and loses memory of his previous existence-includingBette. Fortunately they meet and fall in love again-and Mr. Jordan is free to head for the Hereafter, his earthly task accomplished."
"Copyright, 1942, by Jed Harris (revised) ... copyright, 1938, by Harry Segall (under the title, It was like this)"
Also the motion picture, Heaven Can Wait 1978.
Mr. Jordan is checking passengers who are to depart in an airplane for the Hereafter. The routine is interrupted by the arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he is dead and induces Jordan to look up the "records," which reveal that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years! But, as Joe starts to return to earth to continue his fighting, word reaches Heaven that Max Levene, Joe's manager, thinking he had been killed, had Joe's body cremated, and Joe has no body to return to. Jordan promises to find Joe another body and is informed that the wealthy Jonathan Farnsworth is about to be murdered by his wife. So Joe suddenly finds himself in the home of the financier, visible as Joe to the audience but apparently as Farnsworth to Mrs. Farnsworth, and the public. The comedy begins when the pompous "Farnsworth" unaccountably goes into training as a fighter. In addition, "Farnsworth" decides to share his wealth and right the wrong "he" did to charming Bette Logan's father. Bette, having despised Farnsworth, finds herself falling in love with him and he with her. Just as Joe (still in Farnsworth's body) is about to get a chance to become a fighter, Jordan reports that Farnsworth does not approve of Joe's treatment of his body (and money) and is raising a fuss to have it back. While deciding on another body for Joe, Jordan receives a flash that K.O. Murdock, the champion, has been mysteriously shot. As K.O. is about to be counted out Jordan transfers Joe's spirit into the body of K.O. in time to have K.O. remain champ. There are still problems to be straightened out when Joe really becomes Murdock and loses memory of his previous existence-includingBette. Fortunately they meet and fall in love again-and Mr. Jordan is free to head for the Hereafter, his earthly task accomplished."
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 20, 2025
Here Comes Mr. Jordan, based on “Heaven Can Wait” by Harry Segall
A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Here Comes Mr. Jordan is a good comedy.
The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made List has it in its ranks:
- http://www.listchallenges.com/new-yor...
Nevertheless, I was not exactly enchanted.
It is in part because I was not just familiar with the subject, but happened to see Heaven Can Wait too recently.
Maybe this version is better than the Warren Beatty adaptation.
But I am not sure.
Then the subject matter is also, if not precarious, at least a bit exaggerated.
Yes, it is a humorous take on death and after life, but seeing the two different versions of the same story did not thrill me.
Surely I am wrong.
The film won two Academy Awards and it was competing with…Citizen Kane.
But Here Comes Mr. Jordan won two Academy Awards for writing- the categories were different back then.
And it was nominated also for Best Picture, Best Actor in both Leading and Supporting Roles and Best Director.
Joe Pendleton is a boxer in this version, whereas in the modern take Warren Beatty has the role of a professional football player.
He is well on the way to the highest achievement of his career and he expects to become champion very soon.
But he flies in an airplane that seems very insecure at this time and he is playing his saxophone while piloting…
So the plane crashes and the next thing we know is that Joe has a heated argument with a man that we soon learn is not really a human…
The Heavenly Messenger has made a mistake and took the boxer’s soul fifty years too soon, because he is new in his job.
When they check the list, they understand the predicament which was also caused by the compassion of the Messenger.
So:
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan and he is played by Claude Rains
Mr. Jordan appears to be a supervisor and tries to repair the mistake made, even if it would be rather difficult.
The first solution- and I thought it really silly- was to get the body back and put the soul in, returning Joe to his former “self”.
But the corpse had been cremated and with this solutions that give opportunity to comedy have to be found.
This is where I thought credibility went out the window.
If they have the power to reinsert souls into bodies, the mere construction of a flesh and bone entity is mere children’s game.
In comparison…
- Don’t you think so?
Looking around for people that are about to die, they find this rich SOB, whose wife is planning to murder him.
Joe the boxer is not keen on the arrangement- which I repeat-seems preposterous given the status of Heavenly Messengers, Supervisors and all-until the beautiful Better Logan enters the stage with a serious issue.
Marx Corkle is the manager and trainer of the boxer and he has some good moments, but overall I was not mesmerized.
Although the prospect of Heaven, which I do not believe in at the moment, seems rather enticing, if it does exist.
And of course, we can reach it, even those of us who beat people- like the boxer- or do other sinful things…
A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... and http://realini.blogspot.ro/
Here Comes Mr. Jordan is a good comedy.
The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made List has it in its ranks:
- http://www.listchallenges.com/new-yor...
Nevertheless, I was not exactly enchanted.
It is in part because I was not just familiar with the subject, but happened to see Heaven Can Wait too recently.
Maybe this version is better than the Warren Beatty adaptation.
But I am not sure.
Then the subject matter is also, if not precarious, at least a bit exaggerated.
Yes, it is a humorous take on death and after life, but seeing the two different versions of the same story did not thrill me.
Surely I am wrong.
The film won two Academy Awards and it was competing with…Citizen Kane.
But Here Comes Mr. Jordan won two Academy Awards for writing- the categories were different back then.
And it was nominated also for Best Picture, Best Actor in both Leading and Supporting Roles and Best Director.
Joe Pendleton is a boxer in this version, whereas in the modern take Warren Beatty has the role of a professional football player.
He is well on the way to the highest achievement of his career and he expects to become champion very soon.
But he flies in an airplane that seems very insecure at this time and he is playing his saxophone while piloting…
So the plane crashes and the next thing we know is that Joe has a heated argument with a man that we soon learn is not really a human…
The Heavenly Messenger has made a mistake and took the boxer’s soul fifty years too soon, because he is new in his job.
When they check the list, they understand the predicament which was also caused by the compassion of the Messenger.
So:
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan and he is played by Claude Rains
Mr. Jordan appears to be a supervisor and tries to repair the mistake made, even if it would be rather difficult.
The first solution- and I thought it really silly- was to get the body back and put the soul in, returning Joe to his former “self”.
But the corpse had been cremated and with this solutions that give opportunity to comedy have to be found.
This is where I thought credibility went out the window.
If they have the power to reinsert souls into bodies, the mere construction of a flesh and bone entity is mere children’s game.
In comparison…
- Don’t you think so?
Looking around for people that are about to die, they find this rich SOB, whose wife is planning to murder him.
Joe the boxer is not keen on the arrangement- which I repeat-seems preposterous given the status of Heavenly Messengers, Supervisors and all-until the beautiful Better Logan enters the stage with a serious issue.
Marx Corkle is the manager and trainer of the boxer and he has some good moments, but overall I was not mesmerized.
Although the prospect of Heaven, which I do not believe in at the moment, seems rather enticing, if it does exist.
And of course, we can reach it, even those of us who beat people- like the boxer- or do other sinful things…
February 20, 2025
I read this script, along with my castmates, after being cast in this play. While I knew the general premise of the story, I did not know all the players’ involvement and twists in the story.
I didn’t look to see what genre this is listed as, but I would call it a “dramedy.” Even though the play is dated, there are some very funny moments in this drama.
I would highly recommend seeing this performed if you get a chance.
I didn’t look to see what genre this is listed as, but I would call it a “dramedy.” Even though the play is dated, there are some very funny moments in this drama.
I would highly recommend seeing this performed if you get a chance.
March 3, 2018
This is a play that later movies were made from and the story of love, life and what could happen with the wrong death happening is wonderful.
May 15, 2012
This is a very dated play (came around the early 1940’s), but still as fun to read for me as it was to perform. Lots of great gags and one liners, good old fashioned fun lies within this one.
November 21, 2012
A really funny and sweet play. I would really like to see a live performance of it some time.
May 25, 2018
love this play so much!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews