A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

[Akijama]

A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

After miraculously surviving a jump from his burning plane, RAF pilot Peter Carter (David Niven) encounters the American radio operator (Kim Hunter) to whom he’s just delivered his dying wishes and, face-to-face on a tranquil English beach, the pair fall in love. When a messenger from the afterlife arrives to correct the clerical error that spared his life, Peter must mount a fierce defense for his right to stay on earth—painted by production designer Alfred Junge and cinematographer Jack Cardiff as a rich Technicolor Eden—climbing a wide staircase to stand trial in a starkly beautiful, black-and-white modernist heaven. Peppered by humorous jabs intended to smooth tensions between the wartime allies Britain and America, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s richly humanistic A Matter of Life and Death traverses time and space to make a case for the transcendent value of love.

• New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Audio commentary from 2009 featuring film scholar Ian Christie
• New interview with editor Thelma Schoonmaker, director Michael Powell’s widow
• New interview with film historian Craig Barron on the film’s visual effects and production design
• Interview from 2009 with filmmaker Martin Scorsese
• The Colour Merchant, a 1998 short film by Craig McCall featuring cinematographer Jack Cardiff
• PLUS: An essay by critic Stephanie Zacharek

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Criterion just dropped the clue for AMODaL on Twitter. Expect the official announement real soon...

https://twitter.com/Criterion/status/985967762668335104

Definitely my favorite Archers film. Can't wait to finally own a restored version on Blu-ray.

[sminister]

I've been waiting for this day for a long time. great news!

[sarpedon2]

Originally Posted by lilboyblu

https://twitter.com/Criterion/status/985967762668335104

The difference is certainly illuminating.

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by sarpedon2

The difference is certainly illuminating.

Nice! Much less washed out. Is your cap from the Sony DVD, or the Elephant Blu-ray?

[Akijama]

https://www.criterion.com/films/2883...life-and-death

[Arch Stanton]

Amazing news.

[RiFiFi1955]

One of my favorite films of all time! Fantastic news!

[Ruemorgue10]

Absolutely wonderful news!

[Doctor Jack]

Can it be July already?

[Namuhana]

I haven't seen this yet, but I've loved all of the Archers films I've seen, so I'm pretty excited about it.

[xxnomad]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

I haven't seen this yet, but I've loved all of the Archers films I've seen, so I'm pretty excited about it.

You are in for a treat.

[Jexes23]

Have not seen, but this ones in my wheelhouse. I like Black Narcissus and still need to watch The Red Shoes.

[Archedamian]

I absolutely love the Powell and Pressburger films that I have seen (The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, Colonel Blimp) and so I am super pumped to see this one!

[Scottie]

pre-order

[JackLordsHair]

Holy **** truly wasn't sure this would ever get a blu release wow ! A truly fantastic, dare I say EPIC, movie !!! This will be a day one buy for me for sure !!!

[Questjonmark]

This could climb to the top of your P&P faves list!

[Questjonmark]

I remember when a region 1 dvd was non-existent and a vhs was near impossible to find or afford. Then when a disc finally arrived, it was less than stellar, and improved only slightly in the double-bill with Powell's "Age of Reason." Can't hardly imagine how heavenly this restored release will be...especially since I've read elsewhere--but now I can't find it to quote it--that there are even more special features than listed on Criterion's page for AMOLAD.
Day-One of Pre-Orderdom for this br-at.

[Sifox211]

I love the cover - really ties in with the start of the film!

[dougotte]

I've never seen this one, but love The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, and especially The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. I've read so much praise about A Matter, that I've preordered it.