A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
FilmFare, Winter 1946
Stars:
David Niven, Kim Hunter
In the last issue of FILMFARE I wrote applauding the colour work
in Men of Two Worlds. I can think of no higher praise
for the camerawork in A Matter of Life and Death
than to say that it takes up where the former film left off.
Technically, this film is excellent; brilliantly directed;
beautifully scripted and lavishly mounted and yet, for all that,
one has fears as to how it will be received on its release.
The story, briefly, concerns a happy-go-lucky squadron leader whose
machine is shot up whilst on an operational flight. After his
crew has baled out he succeeds in making wireless contact with
a pretty sergeant in the WACS. He falls in love with her voice
and the deliberately jumps to what he considers is certain
death. Miraculously he survives and is washed ashore at a point
convienient to the aerodrome at which the American WAC is stationed.
Inevitably, when they meet it is only natural that they should
develop the love which blossomed in the ether.
Manwhile however, there is consternation in the Elysian Fields
owing to his non-arrival. The result is that a heavenly messenger
is sent down to earth to bring him back. The squadron leader however
pleads to be allowed to stay here with his love and succeeds in
lodging an appeal with the Heavenly tribunal. His case is heard while
he is undergoing an operation and, due to the efforts of his counsel,
he wins and is allowed to stay.
On the acting side, honours go to David Niven for a very compelling
performance as the squadron leader and Marius Goring as the aristocratic
heavenly messenger. Roger Livesey too, does well as a neurologist
who diagnoses the squadron leader's complaint and Kim Hunter is all
that could be desired.
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