A Matter of Life and Death
Neither Heaven nor Earth could keep them apart!
1946 | 104m | English
Popularity: 4 (history)
| Director: | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Staring: |
| When a young RAF pilot miraculously survives bailing out of his aeroplane without a parachute, he falls in love with an American radio operator. But the officials in the other world realise their mistake and dispatch an angel to collect him. | |
| Release Date: | Dec 15, 1946 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Writer: | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Genres: | Comedy, Fantasy, Drama, Romance, War |
| Keywords | angel, england, world war ii, court case, bicycle, heaven, lighthearted, witty, whimsical, adoring, cheerful |
| Production Companies | The Archers, J. Arthur Rank Organisation |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 10, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| David Niven | Peter Carter |
| Kim Hunter | June |
| Roger Livesey | Doctor Reeves |
| Marius Goring | Conductor 71 |
| Robert Coote | Bob Trubshawe |
| Kathleen Byron | An Angel |
| Richard Attenborough | An English Pilot |
| Bonar Colleano | An American Pilot |
| Joan Maude | Chief Recorder |
| Robert Atkins | The Vicar |
| Edwin Max | Dr. Mc.Ewen |
| Betty Potter | Mrs. Tucker |
| Abraham Sofaer | The Judge |
| Raymond Massey | Abraham Farlan |
| Robert Arden | GI Playing Snout (uncredited) |
| Robert Beatty | US Crewman (uncredited) |
| Eric Cawthorne | Goatherd (uncredited) |
| Tommy Duggan | Patrick Aloyusius Mahoney (uncredited) |
| Leslie Dwyer | ARP Warden (uncredited) |
| John Longden | Narrator (voice) (uncredited) |
| Lois Maxwell | Actress (uncredited) |
| Wally Patch | Civil Defence Stretcher Bearer (uncredited) |
| Laurence Payne | Prosecuting Counsel (uncredited) |
| Robert Rietti | Man in Stairway (uncredited) |
| Roger Snowdon | James Monahan (uncredited) |
| Emile Stemmler | British Serviceman (uncredited) |
| Wendy Thompson | Nurse (uncredited) |
| Frederick Valk | RAF Chaplain (uncredited) |
| Joan Verney | Girl (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Reginald Mills | Editor |
| Ida Mills | Hairstylist |
| Pat MacDonnell | Casting |
| Walter Goehr | Conductor |
| Henry Harris | Special Effects |
| Parry Jones Jr. | Assistant Director |
| Adele Raymond | Casting |
| Allan Gray | Original Music Composer |
| Joseph Bato | Costume Design |
| George R. Busby | Producer's Assistant |
| George Minassian | Assistant Camera |
| Robert C. Foord | Unit Manager |
| George Blackler | Makeup Artist |
| Douglas Woolsey | Special Effects |
| Jim Body | Focus Puller |
| Michael Powell | Director, Screenplay |
| Emeric Pressburger | Director, Screenplay |
| Jack Cardiff | Director of Photography |
| Geoffrey Unsworth | Camera Operator |
| Alfred Junge | Production Design |
| Hein Heckroth | Costume Design |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Michael Powell | Producer |
| Emeric Pressburger | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 11 |
| 2024 | 5 | 16 | 26 | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 | 15 | 26 | 9 |
| 2024 | 7 | 16 | 27 | 11 |
| 2024 | 8 | 16 | 31 | 11 |
| 2024 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 6 |
| 2024 | 10 | 14 | 21 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 | 15 | 35 | 9 |
| 2024 | 12 | 14 | 27 | 9 |
| 2025 | 1 | 15 | 27 | 8 |
| 2025 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Trending Position
Jack Cardiff shows off the cinematographers art to beautiful effect in this Powell and Pressberger tale of a WWII pilot (David Niven) who cheats death, falls in love (with Kim Hunter) and then argues before a heavenly court why he should not have to die (yet) after all. The story is tinged with humo ... ur and pathos and poses some fairly basic "human rights" questions. Marius Goring - "Conductor 71" is slightly menacing and totally charming as he tries to persuade Niven to volunteer for his fate - a thankless task in itself. Roger Livesey is superb arguing for Niven with an equally impressive - if somewhat anti-English - Raymond Massey as his opponent. The stark contrast between the monochrome scenes on Earth and the vibrant colours of the celestial world bring much to this stylish, clever and at times almost dreamily presented joy.