Other Titles • A Matter of Life and Death • Stairway to Heaven • Irrtum im Jenseits (1948)
Synopses for A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
1.
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 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 Technicolor. Daring cinematography mixes monochrome and color, 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. This is one of the undoubted jewels of British cinema. --Mark Walker
2.
With his crew either dead or parachuted out, his craft in flames and falling fast, RAF bomber pilot Peter Carter bails out without a chute. His miraculous survival allows him to pursue a fortuitous romance with the radio operator with whom he shared what he thought were his last words. But agents in Heaven discover that a mistake was made -- and a celestial trial threatens to revoke Carter's new lease on life.
3.
Returning home from a bombing mission over Germany, RAF squadron leader Peter Carter (David Niven) survives a jump from his burning plane without a parachute. Due to the incompetence of an angel, Carter escapes his appointment with death, causing great consternation in Heaven. To further complicate matters, Carter falls hopelessly in love with an American radio operator played by Kim Hunter, and then must plead his case before a heavenly tribunal.
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