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RomanceFantasyDramaWarComedy

A Matter of Life and Death

- 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.

Release Date : 1946-12-15

Language :EnglishFrenchRussian

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The ArchersJ. Arthur Rank Organisation

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles : Stairway to Heaven

Cast

David Niven

Character Name : Peter Carter

Original Name : David Niven

Gender : Male

Kim Hunter

Character Name : June

Original Name : Kim Hunter

Gender : Female

Roger Livesey

Character Name : Doctor Reeves

Original Name : Roger Livesey

Gender : Male

Marius Goring

Character Name : Conductor 71

Original Name : Marius Goring

Gender : Male

Robert Coote

Character Name : Bob Trubshawe

Original Name : Robert Coote

Gender : Male

Kathleen Byron

Character Name : An Angel

Original Name : Kathleen Byron

Gender : Female

Richard Attenborough

Character Name : An English Pilot

Original Name : Richard Attenborough

Gender : Male

Bonar Colleano

Character Name : An American Pilot

Original Name : Bonar Colleano

Gender : Male

Joan Maude

Character Name : Chief Recorder

Original Name : Joan Maude

Gender : Female

Robert Atkins

Character Name : The Vicar

Original Name : Robert Atkins

Gender : Male

Edwin Max

Character Name : Dr. Mc.Ewen

Original Name : Edwin Max

Gender : Male

Betty Potter

Character Name : Mrs. Tucker

Original Name : Betty Potter

Gender : Female

Abraham Sofaer

Character Name : The Judge

Original Name : Abraham Sofaer

Gender : Male

Raymond Massey

Character Name : Abraham Farlan

Original Name : Raymond Massey

Gender : Male

Robert Arden

Character Name : GI Playing Snout (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Arden

Gender : Male

Robert Beatty

Character Name : US Crewman (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Beatty

Gender : Male

Eric Cawthorne

Character Name : Goatherd (uncredited)

Original Name : Eric Cawthorne

Gender : Male

Tommy Duggan

Character Name : Patrick Aloyusius Mahoney (uncredited)

Original Name : Tommy Duggan

Gender : Male

Leslie Dwyer

Character Name : ARP Warden (uncredited)

Original Name : Leslie Dwyer

Gender : Male

John Longden

Character Name : Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : John Longden

Gender : Male

Lois Maxwell

Character Name : Actress (uncredited)

Original Name : Lois Maxwell

Gender : Female

Wally Patch

Character Name : Civil Defence Stretcher Bearer (uncredited)

Original Name : Wally Patch

Gender : Male

Laurence Payne

Character Name : Prosecuting Counsel (uncredited)

Original Name : Laurence Payne

Gender : Male

Robert Rietti

Character Name : Man in Stairway (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Rietti

Gender : Male

Roger Snowdon

Character Name : James Monahan (uncredited)

Original Name : Roger Snowdon

Gender : Male

Emile Stemmler

Character Name : British Serviceman (uncredited)

Original Name : Emile Stemmler

Gender : Male

Wendy Thompson

Character Name : Nurse (uncredited)

Original Name : Wendy Thompson

Gender : Male

Frederick Valk

Character Name : RAF Chaplain (uncredited)

Original Name : Frederick Valk

Gender : Male

Joan Verney

Character Name : Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Joan Verney

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-07-07

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.