Stairway to Heaven (1946)

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Stars: David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey
Runtime: 104 minutes

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 10/10
Special Effects: 8/10
Costumes/Makeup: 8/10
Editing: 8/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10

Verdict: After cheating death by jumping from a crashing airplane and surviving the fall, Peter must prove his love and devotion to June, a woman he met immediately after his miraculous leap, if he wants to remain on Earth and not meet his original fate.

“Stairway to Heaven”, also known as “A Matter of Life and Death” outside the United States, is a gem that deserves a place amongst other classics that stood the test of time. While it is without a doubt exceptionally made, benefiting from beautiful cinematography and special effects that still hold up to this day, it’s in its screenplay that the film truly grabbed me. The themes of life, death, the afterlife and even mental illness are all perfectly balanced, letting the audience decide what movie they want to watch, as the plot can be interpreted in more than one way. The picture is also extremely funny at times, and this is thanks to an incredible performance by Marius Goring, the guide responsible for Peter’s escape, who also happens to be a French aristocrat who was guillotined during the French revolution. He’s not the only actor to shine through, as David Niven, Kim Hunter, and Roger Livesey were all also very convincing in their roles.

“Stairway to Heaven” is a classic in every sense of the word, and I never felt like I was watching a movie made more than 70 years ago, which makes it also ahead of its time. I highly recommend it.      

Final Grade: 9/10