A Matter of Life and Death
“Neither Heaven nor Earth could keep them apart!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official 4K Restoration TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2017-11-10
Top Cast
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David Niven
Peter Carter
Kim Hunter
June
Roger Livesey
Doctor Reeves
Marius Goring
Conductor 71
Robert Coote
Bob Trubshawe
Kathleen Byron
An Angel
Richard Attenborough
An English Pilot
Bonar Colleano
An American Pilot
Joan Maude
Chief Recorder
Robert Atkins
The Vicar
Edwin Max
Dr. Mc.Ewen
Betty Potter
Mrs. Tucker
Abraham Sofaer
The Judge
Raymond Massey
Abraham Farlan
Robert Arden
GI Playing Snout (uncredited)
Robert Beatty
US Crewman (uncredited)
Eric Cawthorne
Goatherd (uncredited)
Tommy Duggan
Patrick Aloyusius Mahoney (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Festival Mondial du Film et des Beaux-Arts, Bruxelles
Festival / Special Debut
January 23, 1947
Wide Cinema Exhibition
December 9, 2022
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$450K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.89x
+$1.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
- Screenplay & Story
- Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
- Original Score
- Allan Gray
- Original Title
- A Matter of Life and Death
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, French, Russian
- Runtime
- 1h 44m
- Production Budget
- $450K
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.8M
- Production Studios
- The Archers, J. Arthur Rank Organisation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Allan Gray
Jack Cardiff
Reginald Mills
Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Department Leadership Roster
Emeric Pressburger
Screenplay
Emeric Pressburger
Director
Michael Powell
Screenplay
Michael Powell
Director
Jack Cardiff
Director of Photography
Allan Gray
Original Music Composer
Michael Powell
Producer
Reginald Mills
Editor
Joseph Bato
Costume Design
Alfred Junge
Production Design
Hein Heckroth
Costume Design
Emeric Pressburger
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Matter of Life and Death.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring A Matter of Life and Death.
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Matter of Life and Death
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Matter of Life and Death about?
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.
Who directed A Matter of Life and Death?
A Matter of Life and Death was directed by Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell.
Who stars in A Matter of Life and Death?
The principal cast of A Matter of Life and Death includes David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey, Marius Goring, Robert Coote.
When was A Matter of Life and Death released and how long is it?
A Matter of Life and Death was released in 1946 with a total runtime of 1h 44m.
What was the box office and production budget of A Matter of Life and Death?
A Matter of Life and Death had a reported production budget of $450K and grossed $1.8M at the worldwide box office (3.89 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for A Matter of Life and Death?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Matter of Life and Death was composed by Allan Gray.
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Matter of Life and Death?
A Matter of Life and Death holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).