Heavens Above! (1963)

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 Amazon.com

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! April 6, 2008

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 in the company) and gives it to the poor through food distribution. Unfortunately, some recipients of the food gifts aren't the needy poor. Some of the wealthy in town send the chauffeur to the food pantry for the week's groceries. The head of the Smith clan, to which Smallwood has given the rectory to as living space, reserves some of the food not to give to the most poor, but to sell on the black market. Shop keepers like the butcher and grocer lose customers and are bankrupted by Lady Despard's generosity. Her kindness has national consequences. Because the sale of her majority ownership of stock ruins confidence in the firm, the family drug company is bankrupt, and its 200 employees lose their jobs. The film raises the issue of balancing Christian charity with Christian justice. March 23, 2008

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 true Christians...well, this is fiction, after all.
At moments Heavens Above feels like the logical precursor to Monty Python, in many ways. A higher compliment would be hard to find.
Beautifully shot with lots of natural light as well.
This film has aged perfectly; its only fault is a rather weak ending.
I'm glad there are so many truly intelligent old movies like this out there; they sure ain't making many these daze!
Very worth watching. October 3, 2007

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 Church and State. People of any or no religious persuasion will enjoy watching Sellers at his deadpan best. A must see film.
March 25, 2006

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. August 5, 2004

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