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From Amazon.co.uk
Briefed by the Ministry of Information to make a film that would foster Anglo-American relations in the post-war period, innovative filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, came up with A Matter Of Life And Death--an extravagant and extraordinary fantasy in which David Niven stars as a downed pilot who must justify his continuing existence to a heavenly panel of judges, because he has made the mistake of falling in love with an American girl (Kim Hunter) when he really should have been dead. National stereotypes are lampooned as the angelic judges squabble over his fate. In a neat reversal of expectations, the Heaven sequences are black and white, while Earth is seen in techni-colour. Daring cinematography mixes monochrome and colour, incorporates time-lapse images, and even toys with background 'time freezes' 50 years before "The Matrix". Roger Livesey and Raymond Massey lead the fine supporting cast, in what is one of the undoubted jewels of British cinema.
On the DVD: A Matter of Life and Death is presented in reasonably sharp 4:3 ratio with decent mono sound. Aside from English hard-of-hearing subtitles there are no extras. --Mark Walker
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Biographies, Interactive Menu, Short Film, SYNOPSIS: Returning to England from a bombing run in May 1945, flyer Peter Carter's plane is damaged and his parachute ripped to shreds. He has his crew bail out safely, but figures it is curtains for himself. He gets on the radio, and talks to June, a young American woman working for the RAF, and they are quite moved by each other's voices. Then he jumps, preferring this to burning up with his plane. He wakes up in the surf. It was his time to die, but there was a mixup in heaven. They couldn't find him in all that fog. By the time his 'Conductor' catches up with him 20 hours later, Peter and June have met and fallen in love. This changes everything, and since it happened through no fault of his own, Peter figures that heaven owes him a second chance. Heaven agrees to a trial to decide his fate. ...A Matter of Life and Death ( Stairway to Heaven )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Written, prduced & directed by Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger this film combines great charm and surrealism in this fantasy drama. Set in 1945 David Niven plays the best roll of his career, as Peter Carter a pilot who has to bale out of his crippled Lancaster Bomber without a parachute. Before baling out he makes radio contact with June (Kim Hunter) the last voice he expects to hear. In his last moments the couple who have never met form a bond. Miraculously he survives the fall, landing in the sea, being washed up on the beach close to where June lives. The couple meet and fall in love. Peter Carter should have died that night but due to a thick fog he was missed by his heavenly escort (Maurice Goring). Heaven must balance the books and Goring is sent to get him. Peter Carter is forced to appeal to a heavenly court for his right to live through his doctor friend (Roger Livesay). Both Goring & Livesay are superb. The special effects are brilliant for their day though at times the lack of them is rather quaint. For example when Maurice Goring announces that he has stopped time and 'everything is perfectly still' the rhodedendrums gently sway in the breeze next to his head. The use of both black & white, and Technicolor is imaginative and the heavinly scenes are quite surreal. The film can be viewed on different levels and it is not hard to see why a film made in 1946 so closely after World War 2 dealing with life, death and the after life should have been so popular. Firmly a product of its time this film in my opinion is one of the 20th century's best films and fully deserves a 5 star rating.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
It is rare to find a film of such devastating quality; the acting, dialogue, scenery, and cinematography are outstanding. Powell and Pressburger do more than justice to this surreal adventure of what we may expect in the 'next life' - I certainly hope it's like the film portrayal. There's a nice balance of witticism and irreverent comment, yet the focus of the film (for me, at least) is the very rational 'argument' of, when should someone die. I'd like to think we would all be allowed the same form of 'appeal' as Peter David Carter - perhaps that is the case!
Old or new, no other film touches this movie for it's consummate originality, and amazing film flair. This film will certainly never 'die' in my memory, however many times I sit down to watch it.
Old or new, no other film touches this movie for it's consummate originality, and amazing film flair. This film will certainly never 'die' in my memory, however many times I sit down to watch it.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
David Niven stars as Peter, a squadron leader during World War II whose plane is about to crash after being hit by the enemy. All of his crew are dead. The radio controller from the airbase is a young American, June, who tries to persuade Peter to bail out before it is too late. Peter intends to do that but unfortunately he has no parachute. Still, deciding it's a better way to die, he jumps.
No one is more surprised than him when he awakes on a beach having been washed ashore close to his airbase. He meets June and it's love at first sight. However, Peter wasn't supposed to survive the crash but the 'angel' sent to meet him got lost in the fog and missed the 'appointment'. Now this being wants Peter to give up life and return with him to heaven. Peter refuses on the basis of his love for June and decides to appeal against his fate, something that hasn't been seen before, and a trial in Heaven follows.
In a reversal from most films of this type, the scenes in Heaven are shot in black and white whilst the Earthly scenes are shot in wonderfully vivid colour. This is a film that has stood the test of time and is as good to watch today as it has ever been, proof that special effects and a frenetic pace do not beat a good, well acted story. Wonderful stuff.
No one is more surprised than him when he awakes on a beach having been washed ashore close to his airbase. He meets June and it's love at first sight. However, Peter wasn't supposed to survive the crash but the 'angel' sent to meet him got lost in the fog and missed the 'appointment'. Now this being wants Peter to give up life and return with him to heaven. Peter refuses on the basis of his love for June and decides to appeal against his fate, something that hasn't been seen before, and a trial in Heaven follows.
In a reversal from most films of this type, the scenes in Heaven are shot in black and white whilst the Earthly scenes are shot in wonderfully vivid colour. This is a film that has stood the test of time and is as good to watch today as it has ever been, proof that special effects and a frenetic pace do not beat a good, well acted story. Wonderful stuff.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heavenly
This 1946 work by the writer, director and production team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (The Archers) is another in the series of cinematic gems brought to the screen... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Keith M
5.0 out of 5 stars
post-war heaven
Roger Livesey was a favourite of Powell and Pressburger (see 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp' and 'I know where I'm going'). He really holds the film together. Read more
Published 1 month ago by lycidas
4.0 out of 5 stars
product very good, reservations about the production
I bouthg this as i am about to perform in a stage version adapted formt eh film and had not seen the film. The quality of the recording etc is fine. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr John Lindley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Film
This is one of my favourite films ever! I fist saw this film about thirty years ago and have loved it every since. Read more
Published 1 month ago by MrsC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old DVD
A really old and dated DVD but none -the- less worth watching. David Niven, a heart-throb of the time! Keep your hankies ready!
Published 2 months ago by kathleen bassett
3.0 out of 5 stars
Loaf and Death?
Nice introduction to surreal cinema (and also to Powell and Pressburger) Even today the opening sequence ("this is the universe, Big, isn't it?") carries conviction. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Geoff KERSHAW
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marmite.
I used to watch the Sunday afternoon film every week. This was a regular visitor. Wonderfully English. Touching, funny, silly over the top. You will love it or hate it. Try it!
Published 2 months ago by Mr John Gardiner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant.
This was a present for my Dad. He tells me it's a good quality and he's very happy with it.
Published 2 months ago by Biddy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast Cheap service
A brilliant film great use of black & white and colour all star cast that appealed to Americans and English when it was made, one of my top 10 films of all time
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Clive A. Heath
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Niven
I watched this film many years ago on the TV so I was pleasantly surprised to find the DVD, lovely olde worlde film, I enjoyed every minute.
Published 3 months ago by Stephanie
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