A Matter of Life and Death

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A Matter of Life and Death

PG

1946

1h 44m

Fantasy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

39 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.

Critics Consensus

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

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

Oct 5, 2018

5/5

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

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Sep 27, 2018

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

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Alan Scherstuhl

Village Voice

Dec 29, 2017

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

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 11, 2026

They chose to make the scenes on Earth so rich, vibrant, and colorful. The juxtaposition with the black-and-white of the afterlife really highlights how beautiful it is to be alive.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Jul 6, 2025

4/4

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

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Aug 17, 2024

5/5

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

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Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Oct 4, 2026

Rich, romantic fantasy, possibly David Niven's finest hour. He plays a WW2 bomber whose plane is on fire, doomed to crash. He makes one last, emotional message to a radio operator, an American girl, before choosing to jump out to his watery death. Miraculously, he lives. Then the story gets very weird indeed. Weird and charming. It culminates in a funny kind of Brits vs Yanks contest in heaven, or is it all just a dream, the fantasy of a man with a tumour? Love is a sort of madness, I guess.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 17, 2026

A Matter of Life and Death = a *5* star Movie!

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Noel L

@RT15930389 Jun 27, 2026

I wonder if this is where the idea for Defending your Life and Soul came from

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Chris H

@RT60525826 Feb 13, 2026

Utterly stunning. Beautiful to watch and genuinely moving. In this day and age we're used to expensive sets, but this must have been amazing in the 1940s. David Niven is suave as ever and Roger Livesey is splendid as his doctor. The leading lady is Kim Hunter, better known (although not recognisable) as Zira in Planet of the Apes.

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Lloyd M

@Moondoglovesyou Feb 5, 2026

My favourite film of all time! An absolute gem!

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David B

@BigdaveB Feb 4, 2026

This is one of my favourite films, part ww2 romance, part theology, part fantasy, part comedy Well worth a watch, sir David Niven is outstanding in it, and a Brief scene with a young sir Richard Attenborough too

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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: Universal Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Video
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

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