A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

8.0PG108 minDirector: Emeric Pressburger

1946 film by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell

A Matter of Life and Death is a 1946 British fantasy romantic drama film written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

Set in England during World War II, the film stars David Niven, Roger Livesey, Raymond Massey, Kim Hunter and Marius Goring. The film was originally released in the United States under the title Stairway to Heaven, which derived from the film's most prominent special effect: a broad escalator linking Earth to the afterlife.

In 1999, A Matter of Life and Death was placed 20th on the British Film Institute's list of Best 100 British films. It ranked 90th in The Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time 2012 poll, regarded by some as the most authoritative in the world, and 78th in 2022.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is A Matter of Life and Death about?
A Matter of Life and Death (1946) — Returning to England from a bombing run in May 1945, pilot Peter Carter's plane is damaged and his parachute ripped to shreds. He has his crew bail out safely, but figures it is curtains for himself. He gets on the radio, and talks to June, a young American woman working for the
Is A Matter of Life and Death based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is A Matter of Life and Death scary?
Content rating: PG. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.