A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

78% User Rating

1h 44min

"Neither Heaven nor Earth could keep them apart!"

When a young RAF pilot miraculously survives bailing out of his aeroplane without a parachute, he falls in love with an American radio operator. But the officials in the other world realise their mistake and dispatch an angel to collect him.

Michael PowellDirector

Cast

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David Niven

Peter Carter

Kim Hunter

June

Roger Livesey

Doctor Reeves

Marius Goring

Conductor 71

Robert Coote

Bob Trubshawe

Kathleen Byron

An Angel

Richard Attenborough

An English Pilot

Bonar Colleano

An American Pilot

Joan Maude

Chief Recorder

Robert Atkins

The Vicar

Edwin Max

Dr. Mc.Ewen

Betty Potter

Mrs. Tucker

Abraham Sofaer

The Judge

Raymond Massey

Abraham Farlan

Robert Arden

GI Playing Snout (uncredited)

Robert Beatty

US Crewman (uncredited)

Eric Cawthorne

Goatherd (uncredited)

Tommy Duggan

Patrick Aloyusius Mahoney (uncredited)

Leslie Dwyer

ARP Warden (uncredited)

John Longden

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Lois Maxwell

Actress (uncredited)

Wally Patch

Civil Defence Stretcher Bearer (uncredited)

Laurence Payne

Prosecuting Counsel (uncredited)

Robert Rietti

Man in Stairway (uncredited)

Roger Snowdon

James Monahan (uncredited)

Emile Stemmler

British Serviceman (uncredited)

Wendy Thompson

Nurse (uncredited)

Frederick Valk

RAF Chaplain (uncredited)

Joan Verney

Girl (uncredited)

Reviews (1)

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CinemaSerf

Rating 70%

July 7, 2022

Jack Cardiff shows off the cinematographers art to beautiful effect in this Powell and Pressberger tale of a WWII pilot (David Niven) who cheats death, falls in love (with Kim Hunter) and then argues before a heavenly court why he should not have to die (yet) after all. The story is tinged with humour and pathos and poses some fairly basic "human rights" questions. Marius Goring - "Conductor 71" is slightly menacing and totally charming as he tries to persuade Niven to volunteer for his fate - a thankless task in itself. Roger Livesey is superb arguing for Niven with an equally impressive - if somewhat anti-English - Raymond Massey as his opponent. The stark contrast between the monochrome scenes on Earth and the vibrant colours of the celestial world bring much to this stylish, clever and at times almost dreamily presented joy.