A Matter of Life and Death (1946): Cast, Box Office & Plot
A Matter of Life and Death is a 1946 comedy drama directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell, starring Bonar Colleano as An American Pilot, David Niven and Richard Attenborough. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $231,292 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Directors
- Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- The Archers
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is A Matter of Life and Death About?
The premise of A Matter of Life and Death without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A young RAF pilot miraculously survives a bail‑out without a parachute and meets an American radio operator, sparking an instant romance. Their love defies both war‑torn reality and the afterlife’s rules, prompting the celestial authorities to send an angel to claim the pilot’s soul before their bliss can endure.
A Matter of Life and Death Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- british pilot
- year 1945
- american woman
- heaven
- appeal
- post world war two
- falling in love
- alternate world
- stairway to heaven
- brain surgery
- world war two
- vicar
+38 more Show fewer
- doctor
- surgeon
- pet dog
- english channel
- kiss
- playing flute
- playing harmonica
- reference to william shakespeare
- reference to sir walter scott
- reference to abraham lincoln
- reference to aristotle
- reference to sir walter raleigh
- playing chess
- nurse
- goat
- radio operator
- beach
- riding a bicycle
- defense counsel
- amphitheatre
- prosecutor
- operating room
- statue
- french aristocrat
- psychotronic film
- death in title
- bomber pilot
- raf pilot
- air traffic controller
- female air traffic controller
- crash landing
- bomber plane
- radio communication
- jumping from a plane without a parachute
- washing ashore
- england
- united kingdom
- great britain
A Matter of Life and Death Cast & Characters
Bonar Colleano leads the cast as An American Pilot, with David Niven as Peter Carter and Richard Attenborough as An English Pilot. Directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell; 29 actors are credited in all.
-
Co-director Emeric Pressburger -
Co-director Michael Powell
- Bonar Colleano as An American Pilot
-
David Niven as Peter Carter -
Richard Attenborough as An English Pilot - Kim Hunter as June
Also Starring in A Matter of Life and Death
· 25 more- Marius Goring Conductor 71
- Roger Livesey Doctor Reeves
- Raymond Massey Abraham Farlan
- Emile Stemmler British Serviceman (uncredited)
- Joan Maude Chief Recorder
- Robert Coote Bob Trubshawe
- Kathleen Byron An Angel
- Lois Maxwell
- Wally Patch Civil Defence Stretcher Bearer (uncredited)
- Robert Rietti Man in Stairway (uncredited)
- Robert Beatty US Crewman (uncredited)
- John Longden Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Leslie Dwyer ARP Warden (uncredited)
- Abraham Sofaer The Judge
- Edwin Max Dr. Mc.Ewen
- Frederick Valk RAF Chaplain (uncredited)
Show all 29 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Tommy Duggan Patrick Aloyusius Mahoney (uncredited)
- Laurence Payne Prosecuting Counsel (uncredited)
- Robert Arden GI Playing Snout (uncredited)
- Robert Atkins The Vicar
- Roger Snowdon James Monahan (uncredited)
- Wendy Thompson Nurse (uncredited)
- Betty Potter Mrs. Tucker
- Eric Cawthorne Goatherd (uncredited)
- Joan Verney Girl (uncredited)
More from Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell
More films directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell, best-rated first: Black Narcissus, The Boy Who Turned Yellow, Age of Consent and They’re a Weird Mob.
A Matter of Life and Death Plot Summary
What happens in A Matter of Life and Death from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In May 1945, Squadron Leader Peter Carter, David Niven, a Royal Air Force pilot, pilots a badly damaged and burning Lancaster bomber over the English Channel after a mission over Germany. With his crew ordered to bail out and his own parachute destroyed, Carter faces a death he believes is certain, but his only radio contact is June, Kim Hunter, at a United States Army Air Forces base along the English coast. After he jumps from the aircraft, Carter expects oblivion, yet a thick fog over the Channel thwarts a timely arrival to the afterlife. He awakens on a beach near June’s base, surprised to learn that he is still alive when a low-flying de Havilland Mosquito passes overhead.
Full summary
The whole story of A Matter of Life and Death, scene by scene
A Matter of Life and Death Box Office
A Matter of Life and Death grossed $231,292 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$231.3K
- International
- $231.3K
A Matter of Life and Death Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 1 trailer and 4 featurettes.
- Featurette Thelma Schoonmaker, A Matter Of Life And Death
- Featurette Mark Kermode reviews A Matter of Life and Death | BFI Player
- Featurette The BFI podcast: A Matter of Life and Death | BFI
- Featurette Actor Michael Sheen on why A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH is his favorite film | TCM
How Well Do You Know A Matter of Life and Death?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays Squadron Leader Peter Carter?
Cars in A Matter of Life and Death
3 cars on screen, including the 1938 Ariel Square Four 1000 and the 1942 Dodge WC 54.
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1938 Ariel Square Four 1000 Important role -
1942 Dodge WC 54 Important role -
1942 Ford GPW Minor role
A Matter of Life and Death Also Known As
32 alternative titles, including “Stairway to Heaven” and “Neste Mundo e No Outro”.
- Also known as
-
- Stairway to Heaven
- Neste Mundo e No Outro
- A vida o muerte
- Irrtum im Jenseits
- Une question de vie ou de mort
- Een Zaak van Leven en Dood
- Een zaak op leven en dood
- Въпрос на живот и смърт
- Pitanje života i smrti
- Otázka zivota a smrti
- En sag om liv eller død
- Kysymys elämästä ja kuolemasta
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- Ζήτημα ζωής και θανάτου
- Diadalmas szerelem
- Scala al paradiso
- 天国への階段
- Escalera al cielo
- En sak om liv og død
- Sprawa życia i śmierci
- Caso de Vida ou Morte
- Лестница в небо
- Störst är kärleken
- 太虛幻境
- Aşk ve ölüm
- 삶과 죽음의 문제
- A vida o mort
- O chestiune de viață și de moarte
- 平步青云
- 천국으로 가는 계단
- Otázka života a smrti
- En sag om liv og død
- 平步青雲（又譯 人鬼戀）
Seen A Matter of Life and Death?
Movies Like A Matter of Life and Death
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Body and Soul, A Guy Named Joe and A Yank in the R.A.F..
A Matter of Life and Death FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of A Matter of Life and Death, each answered in a sentence.
How long is A Matter of Life and Death?
A Matter of Life and Death runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was A Matter of Life and Death released?
A Matter of Life and Death was released on November 1, 1946.
Who directed A Matter of Life and Death?
A Matter of Life and Death was directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell.
More films by Emeric Pressburger Who is in the cast of A Matter of Life and Death?
A Matter of Life and Death stars Bonar Colleano as An American Pilot, David Niven as Peter Carter and Richard Attenborough as An English Pilot, among 29 credited actors.
How much did A Matter of Life and Death make at the box office?
A Matter of Life and Death grossed $231,292 worldwide.
Does A Matter of Life and Death have a post-credit scene?
No. A Matter of Life and Death has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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