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Heavens Above!
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Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0013131193190
Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Languages: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Starz / Anchor Bay
Region Code: 1
Release Date: January 21, 2003
Running Time: 118 minutes
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Theatrical Release Date: 1963
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Editorial Review:
British cinema in the late 1950s and early 1960s turned out a series of gently satirical films that mocked established institutions, and Heavens Above! is the member of the group that turned its attention to religion. Peter Sellers, in an unusually low-key performance that's all the better for being underplayed, stars as a young vicar whose tendencies to interpret Christian doctrines in his own individualistic way, rather than conform to church traditions, leads to all kinds of chaos. He really believes, for example, in taking from the rich to give the poor. It's a quietly funny film rather than a festival of belly laughs, but the points it scores against religious hypocrisies are deftly and persuasively made, and it's one of those British comedies in which squadrons of wonderful character actors fill out the minor roles. Any fan of vintage British comedy will find a cast including Irene Handl, Eric Sykes, Miriam Karlin, Ian Carmichael, Cecil Parker, and Roy Kinnear hard to resist, and there are also very brief appearances from Derek Nimmo and Rodney Bewes at the beginning of their careers. --Andy Medhurst
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - You must watch this
Listed as at Top 5 for Lenten viewing. Too true. Emphasizes the Jesus of Scripture vs. Organized Religion. Guess who loses!
Rating: - Christian social challenge
"Be careful what you wish for; you may get it." That seems to be the case with this 1963 gem. Rev. John Smallwood (Peter Sellers) is an Anglican priest who is the epitome of the unwavering, though naïve, Christian. Never afraid of what people or mobs may think, he revolutionizes life in the fictional town of Orbiston Parva. A major convert is Lady Despard, wife of a late drug magnate. Listening to Smallwood and reading her Bible, she decides to sell all that she has (all the stock that she owns ... Read More
Rating:  - Very funny social/religious satire with Sellers. Say n'more!
What a brilliant script and movie.
Sellers inhabits his role perfectly, the supporting players are all spot on, and the endless barbs and accompanying subtle visual gags are often laugh out loud funny.
And boy oh boy, no mercy is shown to organized religion and big business (if there is any real difference). Razor sharp satire hits home again and again, as in, "Try Tranquilax! It stimulates! It sedates! It's a laxative!" And when the priest turns down a donation because the givers aren't ... Read More
Rating: - Thank Heaven for Heavens Above
What a wonderful film-Peter Sellers is an Anglican prison chaplain mistakenly chosen to be the new Vicar of a staid,sterile and joylous church in a staid,joylous and sterile English town.
Both town and church are in for a surprise,however, for their new Vicar actually takes the Gospels SERIOUSLY! How this modern day parable (with screenplay by author journalist malcom muggeridge, atheist turned Christian believer late in his life) plays out is at once
a funny and scathing critique of both ... Read More
Rating: - Another Peter Sellers Gem
Sellers is appropriately low-key and gentle in his role of a latter-day (sixties Britain)cleric whose attempts to emulate the work of Christ are either thwarted by the rich (the aristocrats and church hierarchy)or misunderstood by it's intended beneficiaries (i.e. the welfare family who he's given shelter who are looting the church). Ultimately this movie is both hilarious satire but somewhat tragic. No fear, though, Sellers reverend gets the last laugh.
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