Product Details

• Actors: David Niven, Roger Livesey, Raymond Massey
• Directors: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
• Format: PAL
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: Carlton
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B000JLCMRY
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,396 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving, funny, beautiful, and profound all at once, May 30, 2009

By	Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

For about a decade, beginning in the late 1930s and extending into the late 1940s, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger crafted a number of brilliant and beautiful fantasy films, from THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD to THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP to I KNOW WHERE I AM GOING to THE RED SHOES. But of all of these films, my personal favorite is the amazing fantasy about the meaning of love and death A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Several reviewers seem to be mildly confused about the country of origin of these films, including the film here. These were not Hollywood films. Powell and Pressburger formed their own production company, dubbed the Archers, and subsequently used other studios as distributors. One of the reasons that I am stressing this is the fact that I do not believe that British cinema from the forties and fifties has received its proper respect. There were a large number of superb filmmakers working in Great Britain during that time, often making films that were more striking and imaginative than were being produced in Hollywood.

The casting of this film is remarkable. David Niven, who actually appeared in far fewer first rate films than one might expect, given his celebrity status, is marvelous. Along with his turns in BACHELOR MOTHER and RAFFLES, this is easily my favorite David Niven film. One reason that some reviewers may be under the impression that the film was made in Hollywood was the presence of Kim Hunter and Raymond in the film. This was one of Kim Hunter's first significant roles, playing the part of a young American woman who falls in love with a man who should have died. Raymond Massey, however, was no stranger to British film, having starred in the first great British Sci-fi film, THINGS TO COME, as well as other productions such as THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. But for me the delight of the film is seeing Roger Livesey, who appeared in many of The Archers best films, in another role.

Visually, this is a stunning film. The gigantic staircase upon which Niven and Marius Goring sit while trying to decide who would defend Niven in his appeal to heaven for a reconsideration of his death. And several of the scenes in heaven are remarkably striking.

This is one of those films that even casual fans of movies cannot afford to miss.