Heavens Above!

This was a marvelous little comedy that in many ways is reminiscent of the great Alec Guinness film, THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT. Like this other film, the movie's main theme is unintended consequences that arise from some selfless and altruistic acts of the leads.

Peter Sellers plays a rather "straight" role as a well-meaning and decent Anglican minister. Unlike Inspector Clouseau and Dr. Strangelove, this character is much more subtle and believable. He didn't play the part strictly for laughs but was more of a characterization. Sellers was a truly gifted and amazing man in how he could seemingly become the people he was playing. His gentle manner and working-class accent worked perfectly to create one of the nicest and sincere priests in film history.

The movie is exceptional in that I think the movie can be enjoyed by religious and non-religious people alike. The film is very cynical and explores human nature in such a way that everyone can take something profound from the film. It is also unusual in that while technically a comedy, it is also serious social commentary. It had a lot to say about the teachings of Jesus and just how impossible it would be to truly implement them in a basically selfish world! Aside from a bad word used here or there, none of this should put off by the film. It isn't heavy-handed or preachy and isn't meant to offend organized religion.

The only reason the film only merits an 8 is because the ending is a bit of a let-down. It really didn't make much sense and was impossible to believe and because of this it really blunted the overall effect of the movie.

Peter Sellers is great as the Brummie vicar whose gaucheness brings a small country town to its knees in this famous 60s satire. It's difficult to pin down the film's target; perhaps the film's so likeable because it seems to get a dig in at everybody at the same time. Among the targets are: religion, capitalism, communism, and British society and mores. The moral of the tale seems to be that no matter your efforts or intentions, you're unlikely to improve on the status quo (and could make things a lot worse). So in the last analysis maybe it's Conservative propaganda.

The film stomps merrily through all the issues with fun effect and should've quit when it was ahead. The final segment is crass and takes off some of the shine.

Peter Sellers plays a minister with a new assignment in "Heavens Above!" a 1963 film written by John Boulting and directed by John and Roy Boulting.

Sellers is the Rev. John Smallwood, and he's assigned to a new parish from his current prison ministry by mistake when he's confused with another Rev. Smallwood. He gets to the parish and really shakes things up, so much so that he practically brings down the entire British economy.

Smallwood is well-meaning, but not very practical. He convinces the wealthy woman in town, Lady Despard (Isabeal Jeans) to give away food. Naturally the grocers are upset.

Then he trashes the product the big factory in town produces, and their stock crashes. While he's at it, he takes in a huge family that was forced off of their property.

The film makes fun of religion with a straight face. Smallwood tells Lady Despard that she won't go to heaven because she hasn't given up her earthly belongings and followed Christ. He preaches God to such an extent that when the Despard butler tells him off, he does it with two different Bible quotes - for me, that was the funniest scene in the movie.

The British economy suffered greatly after World War II, and there are many films about it. This is but one, taking its place with "The Man in the White Suit," "I'm All Right, Jack," and others.

Peter Sellers is amazing as Smallwood, modeling the character on a former teacher of his. He's a gentle man, not given to temper outbursts, who stands by his principles, even though he's a complete airhead.

Very good.

An acid and scathing satire about a prison chaplain : Peter Sellers , he is a well-meaning and good-natured priest who is sent by mistake to a snoobish county parish . The location is ruled by the wealthy Despad family who owns the prosperous factory run by widow Lady Lucky : Isabel Jeans and her son : Mark Eden. Then Sellers accommodates a gipsy famly : Eric Sykes , Irene Handl, Míriam Karlin , and he unwisely opens his home .But good intentions of the new reverend go wrong and it leads to mayhem, strikes and chaos . Or how a humble Man of the cloth was given the Old Double Cross !

A biting and sharp satire on cleric life in England , dealing with a real critique to uselessness of charity , as well as differences between upper and lower classes and the Protestant Church too . Peter Sellers finely plays as the quiet, down-to-earth reverend who is wrongly appointed to a new post in a little town and finally in space . After the hilarious goings on of Private's progress , Brothers in law and Lucky Jim was a quiet departure for the Boulting brothers who here wrote, produced and directed . Here Peter Sellers is well accompanied by a great plethora of Brit actors , some of them considered to be the best English secondaries , such as : Bernard Miles , Isabel Jeans , Eric Sykes , Irene Handl, Milles Malleson , Kenneth Griffith , Gerald Sim, Mark Eden , Roy Kinnear, Thorley Walters of Hammer, Joan Hickson of Marple series and the Afro-American Brock Peters as priest assistant Mattew.

It includes an adequate and evocative musical score by Richard Rodney Bennet. Adding atmospheric cinematography in black and white by Mutz Greenbaum. This sour motion picture was well written/produced/directed from filmmakers John and Roy Boulting . They were two of the best British directors of the England post-war . As they made nice films wether realizing together or separated at times , such as : I'm all right Jack, Brighton Rock , Lucky Jim, There's a girl on my soup , Charlton Brown of the F.O. , Brothers in law , The Guinea Pig , Fame is the Spur , among others . Rating : 7/10. Decent British comedy with great cast.

This is one of the classic British comedies of the 1960's Peter Sellers is superb as the Rev Smallwood a socialist priest mistakenly sent to an upper-crust English village. Eric Sykes and Cecil Parker excel in their roles, Sykes as the lay about, work dodging Smith and Parker as the holier than thou archdeacon. Irene Handle and Ian Carmicheal also make appearances in this film in their typical roles played to perfection.

This film is a satire (with elements of farce) on British society particularly the class system as well as religions role in it. The character are typically English and all show their true nature as the Rev Smallwood bumbles his way into a media frenzy without really knowing it.

All in all if you like British comedy this film is a must see but if you haven't lived in the U.K some of the lines and issues may be lost on you.

A classic up there with the likes of The Ladykillers and Lavender Hill Mob as the cream of British Comedy. 8/10