A Matter of Life and Death
(Stairway to Heaven)
Release date 1st November 1946
Country : UK
Running time : 104 mins
Genre : Fantasy / Romance
Starring David Niven, Kim Hunter
 Screenplay by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger



  A pilot bails out of an airplane but miraclously survives because of an administrative error in heaven. He falls in love and must fight for his right to existence in a celestial court.

Dazzling fantasy which also doubles as a love story ably demonstrating the power of love to conquer all. Very cinematic in its simple effects of freezing action and its use of black and white for the heaven sequences ( a daring move because colour was generally used). Also a very thoughtful film for the immediate post war period in its view of prejudice and war.

 

"This film whether or not you find its philosophy half baked is downright good cinema doing things that couldn't be done in any other medium." Tribune

DVD OOP in R1 available in R2 from Carlton Home Video  :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/