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Le corps céleste

Original title: The Heavenly Body
  • 1944
  • Approved
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Le corps céleste (1944)
The Heavenly Body Clip
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20 Photos
Screwball ComedyComedyRomance

The neglected wife of a tweedy astronomer becomes convinced that her astrologer's prediction of a new dream man in her life will come true.The neglected wife of a tweedy astronomer becomes convinced that her astrologer's prediction of a new dream man in her life will come true.The neglected wife of a tweedy astronomer becomes convinced that her astrologer's prediction of a new dream man in her life will come true.

  • Directors
    • Alexander Hall
    • Vincente Minnelli
  • Writers
    • Michael Arlen
    • Walter Reisch
    • Harry Kurnitz
  • Stars
    • William Powell
    • Hedy Lamarr
    • James Craig
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Alexander Hall
      • Vincente Minnelli
    • Writers
      • Michael Arlen
      • Walter Reisch
      • Harry Kurnitz
    • Stars
      • William Powell
      • Hedy Lamarr
      • James Craig
    • 28User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Heavenly Body Clip
    Clip 0:30
    The Heavenly Body Clip

    Photos20

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    William Powell
    William Powell
    • William S. Whitley
    Hedy Lamarr
    Hedy Lamarr
    • Vicky Whitley
    James Craig
    James Craig
    • Lloyd X. Hunter
    Fay Bainter
    Fay Bainter
    • Margaret Sibyll
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Professor Stowe
    Spring Byington
    Spring Byington
    • Nancy Potter
    Robert Sully
    Robert Sully
    • Strand
    Morris Ankrum
    Morris Ankrum
    • Dr. Green
    Franco Corsaro
    Franco Corsaro
    • Sebastian Melas
    Connie Gilchrist
    Connie Gilchrist
    • Delia Murphy
    Max Willenz
    • Dr. Gurtchakoff
    Alex Melesh
    • Vladimir
    • (as Alex Melish)
    Earl Schenck
    Earl Schenck
    • Forbes
    Arthur Space
    Arthur Space
    • Pierson
    Helen Freeman
    Helen Freeman
    • Stella
    Phyllis Kennedy
    Phyllis Kennedy
    • Ethel
    Marietta Canty
    Marietta Canty
    • Pearl
    James Baskett
    James Baskett
    • Porter
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Alexander Hall
      • Vincente Minnelli
    • Writers
      • Michael Arlen
      • Walter Reisch
      • Harry Kurnitz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    6.11.1K
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    Featured reviews

    8craig-20741

    Warm, Silly, Funny

    Very surprised to see an unfavorable review of this on the front page. No, it's not a classic like some Orson Welles flick, but it is funny, and it is chock full of fine actors.

    Honestly, if this comes on some Saturday afternoon, and you're bored, you can't go wrong. You will laugh, and you will feel better.
    Jenabel_Regina_del_Mundo

    "I'm the happiest Capricorn in the world!"

    If you are at all familiar with astrology, you'll find the tongue-in-cheek astrological subplot very amusing. Essentially a straightforward romantic comedy of the era, with a wartime subplot in addition to the astrological one. Astronomer Powell, pre-occupied with recent developments in his work, doesn't devote sufficient time to his marriage, so wife Hedy seeks guidance from the neighborhood astrologer. Informed that she is about to meet a new love, she becomes infatuated with a handsome air raid warden, presuming him to be her foretold lover. Predictable hijinks ensue, with the predictable happy ending.

    A comment on the role of the astrologer, portrayed by Fay Bainter. Her character is more a shrewd neighborhood gossip than a psychic, but appears to be a genuine believer in astrology as opposed to a calculating charlatan. Her character is presented as essentially a harmless eccentric. However, she is later revealed to be a rations hoarder (much frowned upon during WWII). Some PC Pagan/New Age persons may therefore be offended by the negative, 'discriminatory stereotype' depicted in the film. Others can look forward to some silly, harmless entertainment.

    I recall this amiable hodge podge of a film with affection. The stars are charming and appealing. It also has considerable camp value. And yes, Hedy's ethereal gorgeousness is nothing short of stunning.
    6AlsExGal

    A good WWII era time capsule

    Bill Whitley (William Powell) is an astronomer who must work nights because of his discovery of a new comet. His wife, VIcky (Hedy Lamarr) is feeling neglected and accompanies her neighbor Mrs. Potter (Spring Byington) to visit an astrologist, Mrs. Sibyll (Fay Bainter). Vicky is instantly hooked on astrology because it gives order and purpose to her life. As a scientist her husband cannot take it seriously. When Vicky's horoscope says that she will meet a man who will become her next husband and she thinks that man is the local air raid warden (James Craig), Bill has his work cut out for him to try and keep her.

    This is a pretty good WWII era time capsule. You have the air raid wardens walking the neighborhood making sure the lights are out, you have a hilarious scene with a bunch of Russians that emphasizes that they are America's friends, and the rationing that was going on even gets comically inserted into all of this. I'm surprised that the scene with the Russians didn't get everybody involved in trouble with HUAC seven years later since the idea of the friendly Russians was very short lived.

    I realize that this is an attempt at a screwball comedy, but I just don't believe the performers. Hedy Lamarr is playing it way too ditzy, and William Powell, at no point, seems like he is as upset as he says that he is that his wife is planning to leave him for another man. It's the minor players that make this -Henry O'Neill as a colleague of Powell's at the observatory, all of the maids entering and exiting the Whitley household, and most of all Faye Bainter as the astrologist with a deep dark secret.

    I mainly stuck with it to the end as a William Powell completist, and Powell does have lots of funny bits that made it worth it.
    bruno-32

    Hedy in orbit

    Obviously, the title of this movie described this actress perfectly. She had perfect chemistry with that thin man Powell. It was a different time and the country at war, but it brings back many memories of what went on during that period. ..the air raid wardens, the blackouts and Hedy waving at the window while Powell was telescoping her magnificence in that nightgown. A harmless and pleasant comedy.
    6xan-the-crawford-fan

    Won't harm you if you watch it

    Want to turn your brain off for an hour and a half? This flick is the ideal movie for that, if you're too classy (and smart) to want to watch things being blown up. The Heavenly Body isn't a //super// funny movie, but it's fun, and it'll leave you with a smile on your face. If you can ignore the stupidity of some parts.

    Hedy Lamarr has less charisma than a dead tree, and she's certainly no Myrna Loy, but she and Bill have an odd chemistry together.

    However, her character is so damn stupid that you may just be tearing out your hair by the end. I'm not knocking people who believe in astrology and star signs, but Hedy's character is very gullible and not the sharpest tool in the shed.

    She often played dumb characters, I've noticed. Oh, the irony. Maybe it's because she was so wooden that she was not physically capable of any emotion other than mild shock. Seriously, Hedy Lamarr made Lana Turner look like Bette Davis sometimes.

    Bill Powell is pretty good, but he also has a thankless role. He's an astronomer who works at a place with a giant telescope. One scene in the movie (of course) involves him getting drunk and behaving like an idiot. It seems that when he wasn't playing Nick Charles, every time he touched alcohol, he was made into a fool.

    You wonder how a guy like Bill Powell's character could have ever snagged a woman like Hedy Lamarr's character, but the movie makes it apparent- He's very, very boring. And so is she. Thankless parts.

    The plot's kind of stupid, but it's trying to be screwball. However, because it's not //good// screwball, you never are quite able to forgive the ludicrous plot/actions of the characters (like you would be if it were up to the level of, say, The Awful Truth), and they just seem stupid. I'm using that word a lot-sorry- but it's the best way to describe this film. Perhaps I am being generous in giving it six stars, but it isn't as bad as the reviews here make it sound. It's just that nothing makes any sense.

    The happy ending, oddly, didn't seem out of place, thanks to how well the two stars mashed together.

    6/10 is my rating, but I probably wouldn't watch it again unless someone forced me. Far from the worst film I've ever seen Hedy Lamarr (or Bill Powell) in.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Alexander Hall was borrowed from Columbia but had to leave to direct Once Upon a Time (1944) before this production was finished filming. Vincente Minnelli took over as director for the last three weeks of production, uncredited, which may account for so many of the listed actors being cut from the final print.
    • Goofs
      Connie Gilchrist is credited on-screen as "Beulah", but she is called "Delia Murphy".
    • Quotes

      Nancy Potter: You talk as if astrology is something to be ashamed of, like witchcraft or being a Democrat.

    • Crazy credits
      To Families And Friends Of Men And Women In Our Armed Forces.

      The picture you have just seen is being shown in combat areas overseas with the compliments of the American Motion Picture Industry.
    • Connections
      References Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt (1940)
    • Soundtracks
      Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe
      (uncredited)

      Music by Harold Arlen

      Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

      [Sung by the telescope worker in the opening scene]

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 4, 1949 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Un rival en las alturas
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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