Principal cast
David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey, Marius Goring and Robert Coote
Film 162 of 498 on the Screen Path
A Matter of Life and Death
Neither Heaven nor Earth could keep them apart!
About the film
A Matter of Life and Death at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1946 film at stop 162 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
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.
Key craft credits
Jack Cardiff (director of photography), Reginald Mills (editor), Allan Gray (original music composer), Emeric Pressburger (screenplay) and Michael Powell (screenplay)
- Director
- Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell
- Release
- 1946-12-15
- Runtime
- 104 minutes
- Genres
- Romance, Fantasy and Drama
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Quiz
- 25 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 25 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
25 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example โFull cast
Full cast
- David NivenCharacter: Peter Carter
- Kim HunterCharacter: June
- Roger LiveseyCharacter: Doctor Reeves
- Marius GoringCharacter: Conductor 71
- Robert CooteCharacter: Bob Trubshawe
- Kathleen ByronCharacter: An Angel
- Richard AttenboroughCharacter: An English Pilot
- Bonar ColleanoCharacter: An American Pilot
- Joan MaudeCharacter: Chief Recorder
- Robert AtkinsCharacter: The Vicar
- Edwin MaxCharacter: Dr. Mc.Ewen
- Betty PotterCharacter: Mrs. Tucker
Full crew
Full crew
- Emeric PressburgerCredits: Director, Screenplay, Producer
- Michael PowellCredits: Director, Screenplay, Producer
- Jack CardiffCredits: Director of Photography
- Ida MillsCredits: Hairstylist
- Hein HeckrothCredits: Costume Design
- Allan GrayCredits: Original Music Composer
- Reginald MillsCredits: Editor
- Alfred JungeCredits: Production Design
- Robert C. FoordCredits: Unit Manager
- Pat MacDonnellCredits: Casting
- George BlacklerCredits: Makeup Artist
- Joseph BatoCredits: Costume Design
- Adele RaymondCredits: Casting
- Douglas WoolseyCredits: Special Effects
- Walter GoehrCredits: Conductor
- Henry HarrisCredits: Special Effects
- Geoffrey UnsworthCredits: Camera Operator
- George R. BusbyCredits: Producer's Assistant
- Parry Jones Jr.Credits: Assistant Director
- Jim BodyCredits: Focus Puller
- George MinassianCredits: Assistant Camera
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.