A Matter of Life and Death

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A Matter of Life and Death

PG

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1h 44m

Fantasy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

British Air Force pilot Peter Carter (David Niven) is on his way home to England from a World War II bombing mission in a badly damaged aircraft. Before he bails out of the plane into the ocean, he contacts June (Kim Hunter), an Allied radio operator with whom he shares what he believes to be his final moments on Earth. But Peter survives, finds June and they fall in love. A problem arises when a divine messenger (Marius Goring) arrives to escort Peter to heaven to rectify his wrongful survival.

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Critics Consensus

Stairway to Heaven is a ravishing, creative, and exciting fantasy.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

Roger Livesey is tremendous as Niven's formidable doctor - and heavenly advocate.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 5, 2018

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Typically for this team, the script champions individual rights over nationalist prejudices that endure beyond the grave.

Sep 27, 2018

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Alan Scherstuhl

Village Voice

Bursts with tantalizing ideas, surprising connections, suggestive flights of fancy.

Dec 29, 2017

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

This film has a technical wizardry about it that puts to shame most films of the period. A compelling fantasy that sits thematically somewhere between Lost Horizon and The Devil and Daniel Webster

Rated: 4/4

Jul 6, 2025

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Its political outspokenness, visual audacity and mannered playing now make it one of the most fondly recalled of all British movies.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 17, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Though British cinema was predominantly realist in nature, few films by the Archers are more intimately fantastical than A Matter of Life and Death.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 23, 2022

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Owen N

"Give me my scallop shell of quiet, My staff of faith to walk upon, My scrip of joy, immortal diet, My bottle of salvation, My gown of glory, hope’s true gage, And thus I’ll take my pilgrimage."

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

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David S

Of course I love this film! Love, ok- Love, Love, Love, Love - is the key word finding it's way into the conversation - and the power of its meaning....

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

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Bill B

Dated, but pleasant fantasy about an RAF pilot in WWII who shouldn't have survived the war, and now must fight to stay among the living with his newfound American sweetheart. Interesting examination of the complicated relationship between Britain and the United States.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

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Alec B

As with all of the Powell and Pressburger films from this era it feels wildly ahead of what anyone else was making at the time. A gorgeous spectacle that is undeniably moving (especially during the opening and final scenes).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

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IAN c B

Absoluetly heart wrenching movie that brings tears and smiles to your face. My late partner and i loved this movie and watched it several times over the years

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/24

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Bob W

One of the best from the most underrated of classic-era filmmakers, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. A funny and moving fantasy (or is it?) with some serious points to make and a little bit of a peak inside WW II-era politics. Specifically, it was made partly to ease tensions between the UK and US publics and may have helped pave the way for "the special relationship" that still plays a role, for better and for worse, in international relations. But did I say it's a glorious romance in beautiful Technicolor and gorgeous black and white! Check it out.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/23

Full Review

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Michael Powell

Director

Emeric Pressburger

Director

David Niven

Peter Carter

Kim Hunter

June

Raymond Massey

Abraham Farlan

Robert Coote

Bob

Michael

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Synopsis

British Air Force pilot Peter Carter (David Niven) is on his way home to England from a World War II bombing mission in a badly damaged aircraft. Before he bails out of the plane into the ocean, he contacts June (Kim Hunter), an Allied radio operator with whom he shares what he believes to be his final moments on Earth. But Peter survives, finds June and they fall in love. A problem arises when a divine messenger (Marius Goring) arrives to escort Peter to heaven to rectify his wrongful survival.

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Producer: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Screenwriter: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Universal Pictures
Production Co: The Archers
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1946, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 25, 2020
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Mono