Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

A Matter of Life and Death

  • 1946
  • PG
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
28K
YOUR RATING
David Niven and Kim Hunter in A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:23
1 Video
99+ Photos
Supernatural FantasyDramaFantasyRomanceWar

A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.

  • Directors
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Writers
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Stars
    • David Niven
    • Kim Hunter
    • Robert Coote
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    28K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • Writers
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • Stars
      • David Niven
      • Kim Hunter
      • Robert Coote
    • 241User reviews
    • 91Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Trailer

    Photos138

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 132
    View Poster

    Top Cast38

    David Niven
    David Niven
    • Peter Carter
    Kim Hunter
    Kim Hunter
    • June
    Robert Coote
    Robert Coote
    • Bob Trubshaw
    Kathleen Byron
    Kathleen Byron
    • An Angel
    Richard Attenborough
    Richard Attenborough
    • An English Pilot
    Bonar Colleano
    Bonar Colleano
    • An American Pilot
    • (as Bonor Colleano)
    Joan Maude
    Joan Maude
    • Chief Recorder
    Marius Goring
    Marius Goring
    • Conductor 71
    Roger Livesey
    Roger Livesey
    • Dr. Frank Reeves
    Robert Atkins
    • The Vicar
    Bob Roberts
    • Dr. Gaertler
    Edwin Max
    Edwin Max
    • Dr. McEwen
    Betty Potter
    • Mrs. Tucker
    Abraham Sofaer
    Abraham Sofaer
    • The Judge
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Abraham Farlan
    Robert Arden
    Robert Arden
    • GI Playing Snout
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Beatty
    Robert Beatty
    • US Crewman
    • (uncredited)
    Eric Cawthorne
    • Goatherd
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • Writers
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews241

    8.028.2K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Summary

    Reviewers say 'A Matter of Life and Death' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
    Sign in to see this summary and all user reviews
    See opinions from fans, or write your own review.
    Sign in to IMDb
    This extra step helps us keep IMDb's reviews a space for genuine, human voices.

    More like this

    The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
    8.0
    The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
    The Red Shoes
    8.1
    The Red Shoes
    Black Narcissus
    7.7
    Black Narcissus
    I Know Where I'm Going!
    7.4
    I Know Where I'm Going!
    A Canterbury Tale
    7.3
    A Canterbury Tale
    Brief Encounter
    8.0
    Brief Encounter
    A Matter of Life and Death
    7.4
    A Matter of Life and Death
    The Tales of Hoffmann
    7.1
    The Tales of Hoffmann
    Great Expectations
    7.8
    Great Expectations
    Out of the Past
    7.9
    Out of the Past
    Return to the Edge of the World
    6.6
    Return to the Edge of the World
    Peeping Tom
    7.6
    Peeping Tom

    Related interests

    Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson in Ghostbusters (1984)
    Supernatural Fantasy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance
    Band of Brothers (2001)
    War

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The first scene shot was David Niven washing up on the beach. Originally planned to fade in from black, Michael Powell decided on the spot that the effect would be too cheesy. When Jack Cardiff told him to look through the camera, Cardiff then deliberately breathed onto the lens, which fogged the glass for a few seconds until it evaporated. Powell loved the idea and had him use it for the shot.
    • Goofs
      After Peter's second encounter with the Heavenly Messenger, this time in Frank's library, the doctor and June desperately attend to Peter's condition. June kneels in front of Peter and begins to giggle uncontrollably, then expertly hides herself behind Frank to avoid the camera.
    • Quotes
      • Doctor Frank Reeves: A weak mind isn't strong enough to hurt itself. Stupidity has saved many a man from going mad.
    • Crazy credits
      Foreword (Scrolled up the screen at the start of the film): This is a story of two Worlds the one we know and another which exists only in the mind of a young airman whose life & imagination have been violently shaped by war [Pauses, then scrolls up to reveal] Any resemblance to any other world known or unknown is purely coincidental.
    • Alternate versions
      The US release was cut to avoid showing the naked shepherd boy in the sand dunes.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Story of Making the Film They're a Weird Mob (1966)
    • Soundtracks
      Scherzo
      (1842) (uncredited)
      from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"
      Written by Felix Mendelssohn
      Played on a record at the Shakespeare rehearsal

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ2

    • Did it really happen?
    • Did they use CGI?

    Details

    • Release date
      • March 1947 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Escalera al cielo
    • Filming locations
      • Saunton Sands, Devon, England, UK(beach: The Burrows)
    • Production company
      • The Archers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • £320,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $231,292
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.