A Matter of Life and Death

A Matter of Life and Death

Year: 1946

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Directors: Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell

ComedyWarRomanceDramaFantasy

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.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Matter of Life and Death (1946). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

May 1945

The events occur in the final months of World War II, during Allied air operations over Europe. The narrative juxtaposes urgent wartime danger with a metaphysical legal drama that unfolds after a near-death experience. The period is defined by sacrifice, rapid decisions, and the question of destiny.

Location

English Channel, English coast (England), United States Army Air Forces base on the English coast, beach near the base

The story unfolds along the wartime English Channel and a coastal airbase on the English shore. Action shifts from a burning Lancaster bomber over the Channel to a nearby base and its beach, where the surviving pilot regains consciousness and confronts his fate. The setting blends frontline military life with the surreal journey into the afterlife that follows.

🗺️ WWII setting 🏖️ English coast 🛫 US Air Forces base

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:59

Main Characters – A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

Meet the key characters of A Matter of Life and Death (1946), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Peter Carter (David Niven)

Royal Air Force pilot who survives a fatal mission and fights to live long enough to prove his case. He remains calm under pressure, balancing duty to his crew with a growing commitment to June and his own earthly life.

🎖️ RAF pilot 💗 Survivor

June (Kim Hunter)

Nurse at the US base who falls in love with Peter and becomes a catalyst for his fight to remain alive. She demonstrates steadfast courage, ultimately offering herself to save him.

💞 Lover 🏥 Nurse

Conductor 71 (Marius Goring)

The guide charged with escorting Peter to the Other World, who intervenes when Peter challenges death. He enforces the rules of the afterlife and navigates Peter’s persistent appeal.

🧭 Guide 🌀 Celestial guardian

Doctor Reeves (Roger Livesey)

June’s friend and physician who diagnoses Peter’s brain injury in a surreal vision. He acts as Peter’s counsel after dying in a motorcycle accident while pursuing the ambulance.

🩺 Doctor 💬 Counsel

Abraham Farlan (Raymond Massey)

American prosecutor who represents the celestial cause against British life, adding a cross-cultural dimension to the courtroom drama.

⚖️ Prosecutor 🇺🇸 Nationality

The Judge (Abraham Sofaer)

The masked surgeon who appears as the Judge in the operating room, revealing the new lifespan and guiding the final resolutions of the case.

🧑‍⚖️ Judge 🩺 Medical figure

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:59

Major Themes – A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

Explore the central themes of A Matter of Life and Death (1946), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️ Love vs Duty

Love becomes Peter’s strongest claim to life, challenging a rigid fate dictated by celestial law. The romance with June anchors the human stakes of the story and prompts the court to weigh earthly bonds against abstract duty. The resolution hinges on whether earthly commitments can override cosmic decrees.

🕰️ Time & Fate

Time is manipulated by celestial forces, offering Peter a reprieve and granting him an appeal. The film toys with the idea that time on Earth has value separate from an inevitable afterlife. The three-day window pushes characters to decide quickly, intensifying emotional and moral pressure.

⚖️ Justice & Law

A celestial courtroom ponders whether mercy can override mortality, blending British loyalty with American perspectives. The prosecutor and counsel debate the limits of law when love and life are at stake. The climax affirms life while acknowledging that love can alter legal outcomes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:59

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A Matter of Life and Death Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Matter of Life and Death, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Matter of Life and Death Summary

A Matter of Life and Death Timeline

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A Matter of Life and Death Timeline

More About A Matter of Life and Death

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A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow