Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Released in the United States under the awful title, Stairway to Heaven, this absolutely wonderful Powell/Pressburger concoction was originally released in the UK under a much more fitting title, A Matter of Life and Death. A film filled to the brim with clever lines, brilliant ideas, and true romance, it is (in my opinion) one of the greatest films released in the 1940's - if not ever.

The film begins in a most peculiar way which should, in some manner, indicate to you the bizarre ride you're in for with this film. As the story begins, English WWII pilot Peter Carter is about to die. Having had his plane shot down, and already ordered the rest of the men to jump off the plane, he is stuck alone, in the cockpit, plane on fire, without a parachute. He figures it would be better to jump to his death than crash into it - and so he puts in a final call to the flight headquarters, explaining the situation.

On the other end of his final radio call is June (a luminescent Kim Hunter), a Boston born and bred girl working at the army base. If for no other reason than the existence of this beautiful scene between the two, over the radio, this film is worth five stars. It is, quite simply, one of the better scenes I've ever had the chance to see; Niven, quick with his words and clever to boot, facing down certain death with wit to spare, and a heartbroken June, falling in love with him as he speaks to her his final words over a radio from his plane. Words will never do this scene justice - and it's the opening scene of the freaking film! That the film is able to reach this level so quickly is amazing, that it is able to sustain such excellence throughout is unreal.

So, sans parachute, British pilot Peter Carter jumps out of his airplane.

But, wait, huh, what? He's still alive, floating in the waters into which he plunged. And he doesn't even appear to be in any kind of pain; nothing is broken, no blood, no bruises. His head is a bit sore, but that's the extent of it. For his part, he's quite sure he's in the next life, wherever that may be. He asks a boy on the beach where he is, and where he needs to go. Then he sees June racing by on her bicycle. He realizes he is alive. Someone upstairs has messed up big time.

In a brilliantly funny move, when the film transistions to heaven, it is seen in black and white, a sharp contrast to the 'real world' technicolor that the majority of the film takes place in (and it needs be said that the cinematography and overall look of this film is extraordinary). Someeone has indeed, for the first time in a thousand years, made a mistake. The offender, a humorous French man, has forgotten to take Peter Carter where he rightfully belongs after jumping out of a plane from high above, with no parachute. He is quickly sent back down to earth to rectify his mistake. However, in the twenty hours of extra life that Peter has been given, complications have ensued. He and June have fallen in love.

Peter refuses to go where he should have gone originally, much to the French man's chagrin. He instead proclaims that special circumstances make his situation different. In the extra time he has been accidentally given, he has fallen in love. It's not his fault he didn't die, why should he have to leave earth, and June, behind because of someone else's mistake? He demands, at the least, a trial. The French fellow returns to heaven, promising Peter that he has not seen the last of him.

And that is where I basically stop the plot synopsis, because if this review has convinced you to seek out and watch this film in any way, I want you to discover the rest of it for yourself. It would be a shame to lay out all the details of the remainder of the film (and, to be sure, I've only summed up the film's first half hour or so). A Matter of Life and Death - as I will continue to call it, no matter how many American copies bear its other, unfortunate title upon it - is officially my favorite Powell/Pressburger film. And that's saying something, as Peeping Tom is one of the better films ever made, in my humble opinion. In the end, this film's optimism and romanticism ultimately trump Peeping Tom's voyeuristic and chilling ride. But all of this aside, the team of Powell and Pressburger (also responsible for The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp among others) is truly working at the top of their game with this film.

Originally, if you can believe it, commissioned as a kind of propaganda film to ease American/English tensions after WWII, A Matter of Life and Death is one of the most surreal, affecting, beautiful, and graceful films I have ever seen. Niven is wonderful, as is Hunter - and Richard Attenborough (as Niven's psychologist and eventual heavenly counsel) is absolutely pitch perfect.

This film is one of those films that many people have never heard of, let alone seen (if in doubt, just check the epinions reviews: 2 total, not counting this one). This review is a cheap attempt to convince you to seek out and rent this film. It is quite simply a brilliant film, in all the ways a film can possibly be. It is thought-provoking, funny, sad, surreal, and completely wonderful. Rent it wherever you can, though make sure (if you live in the US) to ask for it under Stairway to Heaven - and don't accidentally take home some bootleg Led Zeppelin concert video! I promise you, sincerely, if you do not like this film, I will send you the amount it cost you to rent it. Seriously. That is how much I have fallen in love with this film.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS