Begun towards the end of the war as a propaganda exercise to encourage angloamerican understanding, a matter of life and death 1946 follows young airman and wouldbe poet, peter carter, who in the last days of the war miraculously survives when he bails out of his damaged plane without a parachute. Timeline world history documentaries recommended for you. Aug 16, 2019 a matter of life and death 1946 august 16, 2019 august 16, 2019 kwadsworth here, then, is my verbatim initial reaction to a matter of life and death, as i shared it on facebook with my friends. A matter of life or death 1946 cinematically inspired. To me a matter of life and death is just that simply the best film ever made. It makes me smile, it makes me laugh, it makes me think, it makes me cry.
I was so amazed by this film i swiftly preordered the blu ray. A matter of life and death, what can you really say that would properly do justice to the genius and beauty of this film. Stairway to heaven a matter of life and death 1947. Always inventive in their efforts, the archers michael powell and emeric pressburger have here created yet another true cinematic masterpiece that at once is entertaining, thoughtprovoking, moving and they do so with great style, taste and wit. A pilot with brain damage after bailing out is torn between. A matter of life and death is all about the power of love and just how important life is. Romantic fantasy film created by the british writingdirectingproducing team of michael powell and emeric pressburger, and set in england during the second world war. A film whose cinematic virtuosity cannot quite make up for a dull story, prosaic characters, and an overly talky script. A matter of life and death 1946 directed by emeric. But on the whole michael powell and emeric pressburgers film functions outside the typical confines that are put on film as a medium. Stairway to heaven 1946 is one of the most audacious films ever made in its grandiose vision, and in the cozy english way its expressed. A matter of life and death 1946 cast and crew cast. Stairway to heaven a matter of life and death movie. A british wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court.
A matter of life and death official trailer 4k restoration youtube. The film also works as a sly satire on angloamerican relations at the end of wwii. He gets on the radio, and talks to june, a young american woman working for the usaaf, and they are quite moved by each others voices. A matter of life and death is a visually extraordinary film. A matter of life and death 1946 the criterion collection. The film was titled stairway to heaven for its american release, a reference to the stunning image of peter and his conductor riding a massive escalator up into the sky. No matter how many times i watch the film and i have watched it a lot it never fails to touch me. Also known as stairway to heaven, a matter of life and death is the remarkable british fantasy film that became the surprise hit of 1946. Cant help with the music but a matter of life and death is my all time favourite film ever call me an old softy it was made as a propaganda tool to get american sympathy before they jouined the war but still its an amazing feat of cinematography and the love story is sublime. A matter of life and death 1946 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The film stars david niven, roger livesey, kim hunter and raymond massey and was directed by the famed british team of. Kim hunter and david niven in a matter of life and death. First mooted as a project to foster an improvement in angloamerican relations, a matter of life and death emerged as a timeless romantic fantasy. This is a copy of a facebook post i made after watching a matter of life or death, hence the rampant overcapitalization and general enthusiasm.
A matter of life and death 1946 tt0038733 when a young airman miraculously survives bailing out of his aeroplane without a parachute, he falls in. Set in a gorgeously photographed technicolor england and a monochrome heaven, a matter of life and death took the imaginative daring of jointly credited writerproducerdirectors michael powell and emeric pressburger to new heights. The arresting opening from the filmmaking partners known as the archers michael powell and emeric pressburger, david niven as a british bomber pilot and kim hunter the american radio operator receiving his signal, in a matter of life and death, 1947, a. A matter of life and death 1946 the movie crash course. Thanks to the criterion collection, one can own high quality dvd versions of technicolor masterpieces the red shoes and the life and death of colonel blimp, with informative extras. David niven, richard attenborough, marius goring, raymond massey, kim hunter, robert coote, kathleen byron, bonar colleano, joan maude, roger livesey, emeric pressburger, michael powell, a matter of life and death 1946 stairway to heaven a matter. Newyork historical society a matter of life and death. Watch a matter of life and death online bfi player. Michael ellison met her in new york to talk about the revival of her husbands a matter of life and death stabbings in the dark peeping tom was the film that buried michael powells career. However, their mistake is realised by the officials in the world, and despatch an angel to collect him. Written, produced and directed by michael powell and emeric pressburger, the film stars david niven, roger livesey, raymond massey, kim hunter and marius goring. A matter of life and death 1946 orphaned entertainment. The movie, which is being revived at the music box in a restored technicolor print of dazzling beauty, joins the continuing retrospective at the film center of 15 other films by michael powell and emeric pressburger, the most talented british.
A matter of life and death, a 1946 powell and pressburger film starring david niven. A matter of life and death, a 2007 stage adaptation of the 1946 film matter of life and death space. A matter of life and death 1946 a matter of life and. This was the first feature photographed by the great cinematographer jack. With his crew either dead or parachuted out, his craft in flames and falling fast, carter bails out without a chute.
Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. A matter of life and death is undoubtedly one of the best films ever made cheerful, whimsical, fantastical and full of human warmth and cheer. He has his crew bail out safely, but figures it is curtains for himself. A matter of life and death made its debut on november 1, 1946 at the first royal command film performance, a screening attended by the king and queen themselves, before going on to become a hit with critics and audiences alike. It was released in the us under the title of stairway to heaven. A pilot with brain damage after bailing out is torn between this world and the next, but an operation puts things to rights. Explore how film has tackled social strife, morality, and the perennial struggle between right and wrongconflicts that manifest across cultures and history. Then he jumps, preferring this to burning up with his plane. It is stimulating, thought provoking, a mirror to the post war world and the relations between peoples. The cinematography is simply stunning and the effect. A matter of life and death 1946 tt0038733 when a young airman miraculously survives bailing out of his aeroplane without a parachute, he falls in love with an american radio operator. Nov 08, 2010 the film was titled stairway to heaven for its american release, a reference to the stunning image of peter and his conductor riding a massive escalator up into the sky.
Dec 08, 2017 a matter of life and death is a visually extraordinary film. Jun 14, 2018 a matter of life or death 1946 written, produced, and directed by emeric pressburger and michael powell starring david niven, kim hunter, roger livesey, marius goring, and raymond massey note. Although its undeniably a greatlooking film, i just found a matter of life and death to be too harebrained to take seriously as a piece of important cinema. David niven, richard attenborough, marius goring, raymond massey, kim hunter, robert coote, kathleen byron, bonar colleano, joan maude, roger livesey, emeric pressburger, michael powell, a matter of life and death 1946 stairway to heaven a matter of. Stairway to heaven a matter of life and death 1947 rotten. The film tries to have it both ways by suggesting that the heavenly scenes are all a product of carters imagination, but the audience knows better. It has a tremendous cast and david niven always worthy of watching. The hedda hopper show this is hollywood broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie under the alternate title stairway to heaven on may 17, 1947 with david niven and kim hunter reprising their film roles. A matter of life and death is a picture that defines the term classic film. But the officials in the other world realise their mistake, and despatch an angel to collect him.
A matter of life and death is a 1946 british fantasyromance film, written, produced and directed by michael powell and emeric pressburge its good id recommend it if you like this genre. Ben mankiewicz intro a matter of life and death 1946. Synopsis in the 1946 film a matter of life and death, david niven stars as raf bomber pilot peter carter. A matter of life and death has been ranked 20095 times, wins 61. A matter of life and death is an easy to watch romantic comedy i highly recommend. A matter of life and death 1946, aka, stairway to heaven is a favorite film of mine. A matter of life and death released in america as stairway to heaven was the magnum wartime opus of michael powell and emeric pressburger, the writerproducerdirector team who spent the years between 1940 and 1955 enthralling the worlds filmgoers while outraging british officials and movie critics. A matter of life and death is a 1946 british fantasyromance film set in england during the second world war. David niven plays peter carter, a young airman seemingly doomed before his time and trapped between life and death, between a technicolor earth and a monochrome heaven. Tickets are distributed on a firstcome, firstserved basis beginning at 6 pm. Browse our collection of hard to find, out of print and rare movies. A matter of life and death is a 1946 film starring david niven, kim hunter, robert coote. A matter of life and death 1946 emeric pressburger.
Newyork historical society a matter of life and death 1946. Shop for your favorite a matter of life and death dvd 1946 at. A matter of life and death is a film directed by michael powell, emeric pressburger with david niven, kim hunter, roger livesey, raymond massey, year. This event is part of the newyork historical societys spring 2014 free fridays programs, sponsored by bank of america. A matter of life and death dvd 1946 movie buffs forever. Join us for the newyork historical societys film series, featuring opening remarks by notable filmmakers, writers, legal scholars, and historians.
A matter of life and death was made in 1946, just after the end of wwii and at the heigh of the archers creative run that also included the life and death of colonel blimp 1943, a canterbury tale 1944, i know where im going 1945, black narcissus 1947 and the red shoes 1948. A matter of life and death is, among other things, a mystical film about what we have come to know as ptsd. A matter of life and death after miraculously surviving a jump from his burning plane, raf pilot peter carter david niven encounters the american radio operator kim hunter to whom he has just delivered his dying wishes, and, facetoface on a tranquil english beach, the pair fall in love. His miraculous survival allows him to pursue a fortuitous romance with. Stairway to heaven a matter of life and death roger ebert april 21, 1995 stairway to heaven 1946 is one of the most audacious films ever made in its grandiose vision, and in the cozy english way its expressed. If you havent, you should watch a matter of life and death. Michael ellison met her in new york to talk about the revival of her husbands a. Mar 09, 2018 matter of life and death is planted in its era. Returning to england from a bombing run in may 1945, flyer peter carters plane is damaged and his parachute ripped to shreds. A matter of life and death 1946 film music groove library. A matter of life and death zitima zois kai thanatou, a 1972 film by vagelis serdaris based on a crime novel by yannis maris. A matter of life and death bfi film classics by ian christie oct 27, 2000.
If i were allowed just one film to keep and watch again a matter of life and death would be that film. A matter of life and death is a rare picture in many. Film quotes from a matter of life and death 1946 p1. A matter of life and death 1946 this british postwar classic and special effects marvel. It carries the vague notions of a war film, its certainly a romance, and it revels in the throes of fantasy. David niven stars as peter carter, a world war ii raf pilot. A matter of life and death 1946 august 16, 2019 august 16, 2019 kwadsworth here, then, is my verbatim initial reaction to a matter of life and death, as i shared it on facebook with my friends. Nonton a matter of life and death 1946 nonton a matter of life and death gratis di, pusat nonton film movie terbaru bioskop atau serial tv terlengkap dengan subtitle indonesia subtitle inggris.
Neither heaven nor earth could keep them apart when a young airman miraculously survives bailing out of his aeroplane without a parachute, he falls in love with an american radio operator. Browse memorable film quotes from a matter of life and death 1946 p1 at classic movie hub cmh. A matter of life and death he falls deeply in love with an american radio operator every time a new airman miraculously survives bailing from the aero plane with no parachute. A matter of life and death 1946 synopsis a british pilot david niven bails out and argues for his life with heavenly powers that be. And jack cardiffs cinematography is reason enough to watch the film alone, the way he lights kim hunters face makes her all the more beautiful, what a genius, he can make a simple things such as a game of table tennis look exciting. Gestapos most wanted french resistance documentary timeline duration. Intended to smooth tensions between the wartime allies britain and america, michael powell and emeric pressburgers richly humanistic a matter of life and death traverses time and space to make a case for the transcendent value of love. A matter of life and death 1946 movies, tv, celebs, and more. Created by the british writingdirectingproducing team of michael powell and emeric pressburger, this romantic fantasy film is set in england during world war ii. May 30, 2015 everyone at orphaned entertainment is on cloud 9 for this film.
It is stimulating, thought provoking, a mirror to the post war world and the. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing a matter of life and death 1946 near you. Watch stairway to heaven a matter of life and death. Entrance to the film series is free during the museums payasyouwish friday nights 6 8 pm. 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. Dec 15, 2011 cant help with the music but a matter of life and death is my all time favourite film ever call me an old softy it was made as a propaganda tool to get american sympathy before they jouined the war but still its an amazing feat of cinematography and the love story is sublime. Eugene kim returning to england from a bombing run in may 1945, pilot peter carters plane is damaged and his parachute ripped to shreds. A matter of life and death 1946 film silver sirens. With its melodrama, romance and endofwar spectral visions, the powell and pressburger film baffled critics in 1946.
888 1201 109 1454 1433 516 223 233 38 792 26 1283 909 218 1286 1241 258 819 71 882 813 621 182 441 986 539 1043 36 1492 674 1111 658 101 1180 1296 1078 161 15 1470 1471 797 1085 103 1155 850 1227 652