A Matter of Life and Death (1946) 1.50pm, Sunday, BBC Two

“Ah, these English. What is the good of kissing a girl if she can’t feel it?”

Powell and Pressburger’s cult WWII drama tells the story of a downed English pilot (David Niven) who is inadvertently granted some extra time on earth, during which he falls in love with an American girl (Kim Hunter). Cue an appeal to the heavens. This delightful fantasy is a moving love story that also examines various British and American stereotypes along the way. That’s hardly surprising given the fact that it was commissioned by the UK Ministry of Propaganda to encourage Anglo-American relations. (Interestingly, the lm was subsequently attacked in some British quarters as being too pro-American).

On the acting front, David Niven is perfectly cast in a role that was originally o ered to Stewart Granger, and the chemistry between he and costar Kim Hunter is striking. The supporting cast, with the possible exception of the ever hammy Raymond Massey, is also good, particularly P&P regular, Roger Livesey. Probably the most striking aspect of the lm, however, is Alfred Junge’s production design, notably the staircase which leads from Technicolor Earth to nearmonochrome Heaven. The beauty of the photography stands out in this restored version of the lm, which was orchestrated by longtime Michael Powell fan, Martin Scorsese. Incidentally, in America, the name of the lm was changed to Stairway To Heaven, causing Powell to complain that they had completely missed the point. So much for encouraging AngloUS relations.