A matter of life and death is a bold piece of filmmaking, much more so than the average war picture no disrespect intended and a most worthy treasure. Returning to england from a bombing run in may 1945, flyer peter carters plane is damaged and his parachute ripped to shreds. Matter of life and death idioms by the free dictionary. Considered by many to be the finest british film ever made, the life and death of colonel blimp, by michael powell and emeric pressburger, is a stirring masterpiece like no other. Roger livesey dynamically embodies outmoded english militarism as the indelible general clive candy, who barely survives four decades of tumultuous british history, 1902 to 1942, only to see the world change. A matter of life and death meaning in the cambridge. Some will see it as a romantic fantasy, elevated from other entries in this genre by inventive visual design, the scenes set on earth filmed in glorious, over saturated. He has his crew bail out safely, but figures it is curtains for himself. Cardiffs work with powell and pressburger is world class but the most extraordinary and stunning revelation contained in this enthusiastic memoir is to see the actual size of the technicolor camera in production stills with sound proofing blimp attached it was enormous, like a. Magic moments and dark hours in the history of medicine a matter of life and death is a riveting new 4part documentary that chronicles 5000 years in the history of medicine, telling the story of those magic moments of groundbreaking discovery along with the dark hours when medicine takes a turn in the wrong direction from the struggles and triumphs against such deadly killers as. From the lush settings of greenery and open waters to the angular, impressionist visions of a bureaucratic. Matter of life and death a aka stairway to heaven blu ray 1946 neither heaven nor earth could keep them apart. This is not the german version, it is a spanish version and it i uses low quality video plus on a recordable blu ray disc pirated.
The obstructive bureaucrat is prone to get this flung in his face when causing a restricted rescue operation. A matter of life and death has come to region free blu ray out of germany. While sony pictures entertainment appears to be dedicated to. Ive imported my dvd of the week feature from my blog. A matter of life and death is a bluray disc getting closer. What does matter of life and death expression mean. The film tries to have it both ways by suggesting that the heavenly scenes are all a product of carters imagination, but the audience knows better. The collectors choice presents a matter of life and death im starting the new year with something old and something new. The criterion collections bluray of the life and death of colonel blimp takes this glorious movie to a new level, with brilliant color and a sharp image that show off a wealth of detail in image after image. The colour merchant 1998, documentary on cinematographer jack cardiff 954. On knowing and not knowing, going and not going, loving and not loving. Definition of matter of life and death in the idioms dictionary.
A matter of life and death was made in 1946, just after the end of wwii and at the heigh of the archers creative run that also included the life and death of colonel blimp 1943, a canterbury tale 1944, i know where im going 1945, black narcissus 1947 and the red shoes 1948. With david niven, kim hunter, robert coote, kathleen byron. Blu ray releases details a matter of life and death. Written, produced and directed by michael powell and emeric pressburger, the film stars david niven, roger livesey, raymond massey, kim hunter and marius goring the film was originally released in the united states under the title stairway to heaven, which derived from the films most. Iron maiden a matter of life and death 2006, cd discogs. A soldier survives a crash that should kill him, washes up on a beach and meets the last person he spoke to the on the radio. Peppered by humorous jabs intended to smooth tensions between the wartime allies britain and america, michael powell and emeric pressburgers richly humanistic a matter of life and death traverses time and space to make a case for the transcendent value of love. Instead, she visits a maternity hospital in sweden. The transfer is quite good, the accompanying extras and other materials were solid, and the overall package is well worth the price. A british wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court. The stock situation and stock phrase is a matter of life and death. After miraculously surviving a jump from his burning plane, raf pilot peter carter david niven encounters the american radio operator kim hunter to whom hes just delivered his dying wishes and, facetoface on a tranquil english beach, the pair fall in love. Life and death in a matter of life and death philip horne 8.
Cardiffs work with powell and pressburger is world class but the most extraordinary and stunning revelation contained in this enthusiastic memoir is to see the actual size of the technicolor camera in production stills with sound proofing blimp attached it was enormous, like a prototype mini. She meets a doctor, who she has been in love for 15 years. I was so amazed by this film i swiftly preordered the blu ray. A matter of life and death bluray steelbook avforums.
Sony completed a remastering of a matter of life and death seven or eight years ago. Sony have completed a new 4k restoration of powell and pressburgers a matter fo life and death in association with park circus. It was released on 25 august 2006 in italy and finland, and 28 august worldwide, excluding the us, canada and japan on 5 september. The latest news on all things 4k ultra hd, bluray and gear. Those kinds of images in a matter of life and death and the transitions between the two formats, still striking as ever are given a liveliness in this bluray that restores the finest details of jack cardiffs cinematography. Matter of life and death a aka stairway to heaven bluray. I am laying money the frist edition will be from brit reegion free label indicator.
Roger livesey dynamically embodies outmoded english militarism as the indelible general clive candy, who barely survives four decades of tumultuous british history, 1902 to 1942, only to see the world. A matter of life and death definition and meaning collins. When peter carter david nivens plane is struck on his way back to england from a bombing mission and his parachute destroyed, he prepares himself for death. The following information has been provided by the. The life and death of colonel blimp 1943 the criterion.
Jul 24, 2018 those kinds of images in a matter of life and death and the transitions between the two formats, still striking as ever are given a liveliness in this bluray that restores the finest details of jack cardiffs cinematography. A matter of life and death is a 1946 british fantasyromance film set in england during the second world war. Ive been waiting for the blu ray version of a matter of life and death for quite some time. A film whose cinematic virtuosity cannot quite make up for a dull story, prosaic characters, and an overly talky script. A matter of life and death is a riveting new 4part documentary that chronicles 5000 years in the history of medicine, telling the story of those magic moments of groundbreaking discovery along with the dark hours when medicine takes a turn in the wrong direction. Several people at the academy screening of a matter of life and death inquired as to when the film would be available on dvd. Cd, album dvd, dvdvideo, pal all media, limited edition, slipcase.
The color scheme supports the sony sd but even with a singlelayered 1080p transfer with a low bitrate this bd bests the other digital transfers better and more grain texture, slight improvement in detail in spots and the colors jump to live looking deeper and richer. For this ultra hd edition of the lion king, disney home entertainment ports over the same set of bonus material as the dayanddate bluray release. For this ultra hd edition of the lion king, disney home entertainment ports over the same set of bonus material as the day and date blu ray release. A matter of life and death bluray disc details highdef digest. A matter of life and death by emeric pressburger, michael. The version on the disc bears the original english title. Director jon favreau rides solo through this jungle, explaining the technical details and the performances while also comparing the film to the original.
Soundtrack restored from the 35mm nitrate variable density optical soundtrack negative at deluxe audio, hollywood. A matter of life and death bluray disc details highdef. A matter of life and death the criterion collection bluray. A matter of life and death is a rare picture in many ways. A matter of life and death has come to region free bluray out of germany. Todays best dunkirk 4k uhd digital download blu ray 2017 deals. A matter of life and death stairway to heaven blu ray forum. But the officials in the other world realise their mistake, and despatch an angel to collect him. A matter of life and death is the fourteenth studio album by english heavy metal band iron maiden. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Michael powells and emeric pressburgers a matter of life and death arrives on bluray courtesy of the criterion collection. Nov 29, 2011 bit of a bump for this classic and a headsup that theres rumblings on the forums at blu ray. A matter of life and death the criterion collection blu. A matter of life and death 1946 dvd classic films direct.
Critics picks the red shoes the new york times duration. Bit of a bump for this classic and a headsup that theres rumblings on the forums at that a french distributor called elephant films are planning on releasing a matter of life and death on bluray in either december or early next year. And we start the year with the first essential dvd release of 2009. The criterion collections blu ray of the life and death of colonel blimp takes this glorious movie to a new level, with brilliant color and a sharp image that show off a wealth of detail in image after image. A matter of life and death stairway to heaven bluray forum. Review of the 1946 film a matter of life and death. A female reporter intended to go on a reporting trip about childbirth to japan, declines the offer. Matter of life and death a aka stairway to heaven blu. The 4k will debiut at this years london ff in november.
The following information has been provided by the distributor. Criterions first dvd about 14 years ago was the first opportunity to see the full feature, as it had heavily edited and was often. Magic moments and dark hours in the history of medicine a matter of life and death is a riveting new 4part documentary that chronicles 5000 years in the history of medicine, telling the story of those magic moments of groundbreaking discovery along with the dark hours when medicine takes a turn in the wrong direction from the struggles and triumphs against such deadly. Am i weeping for the death of davids mother, for the death of humans, for the death of photography, or for the death of movies. Although considerable variation is allowed in the face of different situations. Bluray releases details a matter of life and death. Coming from a new 4k restoration performed by sony pictures home entertainment it is presented here on a duallayer disc in its original aspect ratio of 1. Written, produced and directed by michael powell and emeric pressburger, the film stars david niven, roger livesey, raymond massey, kim hunter and marius goring. Jul 24, 2018 a matter of life and death was restored in 4k by sony pictures entertainment. The old 2008 disc and the completely horrible french and german bds are from that 2007 master. In on kubrick bfi publishing, 2007, james naremore reflects on his response to the ending of a. Bit of a bump for this classic and a headsup that theres rumblings on the forums at blu ray.
This is not the german version, it is a spanish version and it i uses low quality video plus on a recordable bluray disc pirated. Inspection, repair and 4k scanning of the 35mm nitrate 3strip technicolor picture negative by cineric, inc. Retrovision theater presents a matter of life and death. I would love to see a matter of life and death get a criterion release as i would also love to see the 2015. A matter of life and death was produced, written, and directed by michael powell and emeric pressburger,originally as a propaganda film to improve angloamerican relations. Nov 10, 2017 critics picks the red shoes the new york times duration. Among the curious but effective artistic choices in a matter of life and death was the decision to film the earthbound scenes in technicolor and the heaven sequences in blackandwhite. Neither heaven nor earth could keep them apart when a young airman miraculously survives bailing out of his aeroplane without a parachute, he falls in love with an american radio operator.
Sonys 2dvd set the films of michael powell has been in the works for quite some time. Classic fantasy from powell and pressburger in which an raf pilot must argue for his life in a celestial trial after a mixup sees him survive a fall from his plane. Among the curious but effective artistic choices in a matter of life and death was the decision to film the earthbound scenes in technicolor and the heaven sequences in black and white. Others will see it as a thoughtful, profound meditation on romantic love and the driving forces behind the universe. A matter of life and death was restored in 4k by sony pictures entertainment. A matter of life and death the films of michael powell.