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Heavens Above!

Play trailer Poster for Heavens Above! 1963 1h 45m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 7 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In a case of mistaken identity, John Smallwood (Peter Sellers), an idealistic British reverend with socialist beliefs, is appointed to a village parish populated by elitist landed gentry. There his conscience and acts of charity quickly become unpopular with the parishioners, who reveal a selfish and un-Christian disdain for those less fortunate who the reverend welcomes to the parish. Things really go awry, however, when Smallwood's actions endanger the village's primary source of income.

Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Aug 13
4/5
Sellers plays one of his most impressively muted and winningly sweet characters, the Rev John Smallwood. Go to Full Review
Bosley Crowther New York Times 05/09/2005
The style of the film is brisk and easy, with snappy jump cuts and narrative speed, leading up to a farcical climax that might easily have been improved... But the total effect is devastating to the well-tuned funny bone. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Aug 5
4/5
…wasn't impressed as a kid, expecting silly Peter Sellers voices and slapstick, but satire is something you only understand as you get older... any film based on an idea by a satirist like Malcolm Muggeridge is aiming for something more than belly laughs. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Apr 27
3/4
Heavens Above! attacks the hypocrisy of conservative Christian posers, but it doesn’t exactly go easy on true believers. Go to Full Review
Dwight MacDonald Esquire Magazine 08/12/2019
By now [Peter Sellers] has spread his talent so thin in so many films that he seems unable to keep his characterizations separate. Furthermore, the satire is heavy-handed and illogical. Go to Full Review
MFB Critics Monthly Film Bulletin 02/01/2018
Way off target as a satire, the Boultings' latest effort is remarkable chiefly for the amount of schoolboy smut it manages to incorporate, and for the nastiness of its view of people. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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isla s 09/04/2022 There were some amusing moments in this film, which is very much a social commentary type send up of stuffy church staff and English parishioners. There are some relatively funny situations, some mix ups and quirky goings-on. However, it was a bit bland. Its a fairly amusing watch but with too many stuffy scenes in between and so it wasn't one of the best films of its time that I've seen but I wouldn't say its a bad film in general, no. Also, the ending was surprisingly zany, I'll give it that! The ending also explains the title but I won't elaborate so as not to provide any spoilers. This is worth a watch if your a fan of Peter Sellers or if it sounds particularly interesting but I certainly wouldn't bother making a point of getting it, as such. See more 04/14/2016 A near perfect take on liberalism in the church, and how that doesn't fit well with those that actually run the church who fear its consequences. See more 02/10/2013 Peter Sellers once again knocks it out of the park with bringing to life a super nice cheerful priest who just wishes to do God's work and the film looks at the realistic fallout of such deeds See more 01/08/2013 Overlong, cynical British comedy has a low-key Peter Sellers performance. See more Petros T @PetrosTserpelis 08/31/2012 "Heavens Above!" is the story of Jesus Christ II in the form of John Smallwood (Peter Sellers). The film is filled with symbolisms and is a little too self-serious, but offers some laughs, good acting (Sellers, Cecil Parker, Bernard Miles) and the classic gag of Sellers accidentally tripping into a grave. Overall, it's an enjoyable if not particularly special little film that would probably have been better if it had left the preaching aside. See more 01/14/2012 Social satire with a rather somber message. There's a lot to think about in this film. Sellers is fabulous. See more Read all reviews
Heavens Above!

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Movie Info

Synopsis In a case of mistaken identity, John Smallwood (Peter Sellers), an idealistic British reverend with socialist beliefs, is appointed to a village parish populated by elitist landed gentry. There his conscience and acts of charity quickly become unpopular with the parishioners, who reveal a selfish and un-Christian disdain for those less fortunate who the reverend welcomes to the parish. Things really go awry, however, when Smallwood's actions endanger the village's primary source of income.
Director
John Boulting, Roy Boulting
Producer
John Boulting, Roy Boulting
Screenwriter
John Boulting, Frank Harvey
Production Co
Charter Film Productions
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2011
Runtime
1h 45m