A Matter of Life and Death
[They have this image on the nice new poster at the NFT. WHY
don't they sell them?]
Written, Directed and Produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
104 Mins B&W/Colour New 35mm print Cert U
Opens 24 March 2000 at London's National Film Theatre and Curzon Soho, followed
by key UK venues
Powell and Pressburger's tenth glorious collaboration was commissioned as
a propagandist attempt to smooth over fractured post-war US/UK relations.
In their tale of two worlds, beautifully shot by Jack Cardiff, love is proved
to be the all-conquering force.
David Niven plays an RAF pilot forced to bail out without a parachute. But
the sky is foggy and instead of entering heaven, he lands at the feet of
Kim Hunter's American air controller. They fall in love. But all is not
so well in the monochrome vision of heaven. The number of admissions don't
tally and an epic trial ensues. Meanwhile on Technicolor earth, the young
airman must battle over the ever-precious matter of his life and death.
Starring
David Niven as Peter David Carter
Roger Livesey as Dr Frank Reeves
Raymond Massey as Abraham Farlan
Kim Hunter as June
Marius Goring as Conductor 71
Kathleen Byron as an officer angel
and
Richard Attenborough as an English pilot
What the press said about A Matter of Life and Death
"Celestially wonderful"
Time Out
"It's a story with humour and heart, a genuine classic that rewards with
repeat viewings"
*****
Emma Cochrane,
Empire
[I hope ("no, I KNOW") so, I've got tickets to see it 5 times this month]
"An undeniable masterpiece"
****
David Stubbs,
Uncut
[So why dir he only give it 4 stars? Is that their maximum?]
"One of the best movies ever produced in these shores"
*****
Anwar Brett,
Film Review
"A romantic, daring and beautiful allegorical fantasy - one of the best
of the Powell/Pressburger movies"
Martin Scorsese
[One of the best Marty? So you still prefer ToH do you?]
"Quite simply A Matter of Life and Death is a visual feast"
*****
Jonathan Wright,
Total Film
"To modern audiences who revile bad CGI effects, Life and Death's seamless
visual magic is still amazing"
Total Film
[Especially when they walk through that glass panelled door]
"One of the most original, stimulating and entertaining films ever made
in England"
Daily Telegraph
"An outrageous fantasy full of wit, beautiful sets and Technicolor, and
perfectly judged performances .... works like a dream ..."
Geoff Andrew,
Time Out
(A Matter of Life and Death is
number 20
in the
bfi 100)
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