A Matter of Life and Death

Emerging from a commission for a propaganda feature to help ease tensions in Anglo-American wartime relations, this tale tells of a young airman (David Niven) who miraculously survives a leap from his blazing bomber without a parachute after falling in love with the voice of an American radio operator (Kim Hunter). When officials in the 'other world' realise their mistake, they despatch an angel to collect him, and he must argue for his life before a celestial court. A flamboyant tale of the power of love versus the 'powers that be', A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH is Powell and Pressburger’s most romantic and magical film.

➜ Introduced by Trish Sheil from the Cambridgeshire Film Consortium.

Print source: BFI