A Matter Of Life And Death
1946
In the 1946 film A Matter Of Life And Death, David Niven stars as RAF bomber pilot Peter Carter. With his crew either dead or parachuted out, his craft in flames and falling fast, Carter bails out without a chute. His miraculous survival allows him to pursue a fortuitous romance with a radio operator, with whom he shared what .. Read more
| Starring | David Niven, Kim Hunter, Marius Goring, Roger Livesey |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
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A Matter Of Life And Death
In the 1946 film A Matter Of Life And Death, David Niven stars as RAF bomber pilot Peter Carter. With his crew either dead or parachuted out, his craft in flames and falling fast, Carter bails out without a chute. His miraculous survival allows him to pursue a fortuitous romance with a radio operator, with whom he shared what he thought were his last words. Agents in Heaven, however, soon discover that a mistake was made and a celestial trial threatens to revoke Carter's new lease on life.
| Starring | David Niven, Kim Hunter, Marius Goring, Roger Livesey, Raymond Massey, Robert Coote, Robert Arden, Joan Maude, Kathleen Byron, Bob Roberts, Abraham Sofaer, Bonar Colleano, Richard Attenborough, Robert Atki |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Studio | ITV DVD |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 40 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Romance |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 14 Sep 1998 Production year: 1946 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Rod Taylor attempts to emulate Burt Reynolds's 1973 cinema success as private eye Shamus McCoy, who this time around gets caught up in a gambling racket. But the gamble failed to pay off for the producers of this TV pilot, as the planned series never materialised. The cast includes Wonder Woman's Lynda Carter and Anne Archer, who would later find her niche playing the faithful but long-suffering wife in such films as Fatal Attraction and Patriot Games.
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Outrageous fantasy which seemed more in keeping after the huge death toll of a world war, and in any case learned the Hollywood lesson of eating its cake and still having it, the supernatural elements being capable of explanation. A mammoth technical job
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Most helpful member's review
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19 out of 22 people found this review helpful
Don't get to the end without seeing it
Apparently commissioned to improve Anglo-American relations, this film is much more than a glorified public information commercial.
David Niven plays a pilot caught out on a war time raid, who makes a chance connection with the radio operator (Karen Hunter) at the other end. When he misses his angel of death in the English fog, their love blossoms, and heaven demands answers.
With a daring mixed black and white and colour format (remember this was made in the 1940s) and some brilliantly executed effects, A Matter of Life and Death was guaranteed a place in technical history.
More importantly, it has a witty and engaging script, with both Niven and Hunter turning in charming performances.
Heavenly. -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
a masterpiece
I cannot really express how beautiful this film is. It is incredibly romantic and passionate without in any way being twee or trite. Its visually stunning without overpowering you or attempting to show off. The story is very simple and clear and sweet (apart from the bit they had to put in about anglo-american brotherly love which is a bit unneccesary) and it has that rarest of things in a film - a balance between making you think and making you feel. This is an intellegent film which wants you to deal with the issues it presents - the afterlife, the unneccesay cruelties of war - if you think that most people going to see it in 1946 would definately have known someone who had died in the war you can see how powerful and brave a statement it is in attempting to offer some consolation that death is maybe not the end or that life and love on earth should be cherished above all things (there is a reason why he other world is boring black and white and the earth technicolour). I'm babbling - but i really think you should all see this film - i'm not saying it changed my life or anything but if im feeling gloomy or if i need some reassurance in the importance of our lives in the grand scheme of things then its this film i put on. Its the closest thing to a perfect film.
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News and features
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Caine tops Brit film list
- 04 Oct 2004
Michael Caine's portrayal of Newcastle killer Jack Carter has been named the best film of all time in a new poll. Get Carter beat off competition from other British classics such as Lawrence of Arabia and The Life of Brian to top the Total Film list of the best 50 British films. It may have caused something of a stir when it was released in 1971, but the gritty Get Carter has proved its enduring popularity according to the 25 film critics surveyed for the poll. The film, based on Ted Lewis's... Read more
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A Matter Of Life And Death
In the 1946 film A Matter Of Life And Death, David Niven stars as RAF bomber pilot Peter Carter. With his crew either dead or parachuted out, his craft in flames and falling fast, Carter bails out without a chute. His miraculous survival allows him to pursue a fortuitous romance with a ...
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