A Matter Of Life And Death on DVD (1946)

Don't get to the end without seeing it

james from Norfolk , 11/10/2003

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.

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One of my favourite films

flippertbk from Milton Keynes , 14/07/2004

A Matter of Life and Death goes from the ravaged skies over Europe in WWII to the miraculous survival (or so it appears) of the ever so sauve David Niven to Heaven - and back again. Or did everything take place in his head - the wild imagination of a bewildered man fighting for his life. This is Powell and Pressburger at their finest and this film hasn't aged a day since 1946. I love this movie, watched it for the third time (in ten years) the other day and it still charmed and bewitched me. This film truly is magical.

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Magnificent

suze22 from bath , 27/01/2005

One of my all time favourites, a miracle of cinema in its day I understand. The transition from black and white to colour is subtle in the extreme. I could go on and on about the delicate way this 'message of public information' is handled but I need say not more than - miss this at your peril - a must see - over and over!

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a masterpiece

Mike Cumes from Norwich, England , 20/11/2006

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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Senti-mental heaven

FezHarrison from Surrey , 12/04/2005

David Niven and Kim Hunter (later Zira the chimp in Planet of the Apes) don't quite take all the glory in this film, as Roger Livesey (also title role in Col. Blimp) is energetic and enthusiastic.

Many viewers will wish to consider the philosophical points made by the film about heaven, life after death etc... but I can also see it as a tongue in cheek reflection on those who follow religion.... whilst all of the "normal" characters are not privy to what "heaven" is doing, only a mental patient is capable of truly accepting a percieved existence of heaven or life after death. Is David Niven's character trying to imply that you have to be "nuts" to believe?

Whilst the humour is good natured banter between the Americans and the British, the war time propaganda is at times a little glaring.... for example there are members of every nation in heaven... except Germans, Italians and Japanese, unless they happen to be Americanised.

Marvellous fantasy, I give this a 7, although God probably gives it a 4.

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Don't get to the end without seeing it

james from Norfolk , 11/10/2003

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.

Read all highest rated reviews