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This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

At the end of the Second World War, relations between the Americans and the British were a little strained as, in the run-up to D-Day, the yanks won local hearts while they were "overpaid, oversexed and over here" and a British Government department suggested the idea of a locally-made film to improve perceptions.Written, produced and directed by the quintessentially British Michael Powell and the Hungarian-born Emeric Pressburger, the work may not have fully met its contemporary brief: British critics of the time thought the film was too pro-American and the Americans renamed the work "Stairway To Heaven" because they thought the word 'death' would kill its prospects. But the movie played well with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic and it was so visually inventive and verbally clever that it has become a classic.At the heart of the story is an inversion of the usual 'yank gets the girl' narrative, as RAF bomber pilot Squadron Leader Peter Carter (David Niven) wins the affection of American radio operator June (Kim Hunter) in record time and audacious circumstances as he is about to bale out without a parachute. That should be the end of the 'matter' but Conductor 71 (Marius Goring) of "the other world" (the word 'heaven'is never used) fails to find his man in the Channel fog.So this is a romance - and a comedy - but it is also very political with some satirical analysis of contemporary Britain and America. The tribunal in the other world, pitting American prosecuter (Raymond Massey) against the British defender (Roger Livesey), features critiques and characteriisations of both nations, not least in the choice of the members of the two juries.The set designs - by German-born Alfred Junge - are simple but striking, especially the staircase to the other world and the scenes of that world, while there are a whole range of clever visual techniques, starting with the representation of earth in colour and the heavenly world in black & white and including the 'freezing' of 'real life' when Conductor 71 makes his earthly appearances and an amzing shot from an eyeball point of view.Even the statutes on the stairway are carefully chosen (all of the 17 famous personages named in Pressburger's copy of the script were believed to be sufferers of epilepsy). Indeed the whole film is constructed so that the viewer can interpret the story either as a real life medical phenomenon or as an obviously spiritual experience.Most people will only have seen this film on television which is where I first encountered it. But, in December 2017, a digitally restored version was shown in British cinemas and I was fortunate enough to see it on the big screen as a Boxing Day treat.Seven decades on, the film still has resonance as a British Prince Harry wins the heart of the American actress Meghan Markle and the second jury - made up entirely of self-declared immigrants to the USA - reminds us that current US President Donald Trump does not represent the real America.

While the script itself has been sort of done in "Heaven Can Wait" and "Here Comes Mr. Jordan", this one is done better than either of those films. David Niven became a star with this film. It is easy to see why. This is a very good film.The film starts with Niven alone on a Lancaster Bomber on it's way down. With the exception of one dead person, everyone else has bailed out. Niven has not because he does not have a parachute. For some reason he gets a radio call from a woman who he tells his situation too and then he bails out rather than burning with the plane.Here this plot becomes more complicated as he meets the girl he fell in love with on the radio as he is still alive after jumping out. It seems he was supposed to die but because of the fog, he did not.This film uses black and white and technicolor to major advantages. It has some special effects that are amazing considering when the film was made. The supporting cast is great. It started filming on V-Jay day, and because of that the war sequences seem more real than many films.The script while not perfect, does a good job of balancing the story between Heaven and Earth. It doe it better than the other films I mentioned and gets rid of the hokey desire of the dead person to want to step into another persons shoes. It is stronger because it goes to the mode of airman Niven getting a trial to decide if he should come to heaven now (after their foggy mistake to end his live missed) or if he should stay on earth with his new found love.It works better, and that is simply why this is a great film.

A British wartime aviator (David Niven) who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court.Another reviewer wrote that this film is, quite simply, the greatest movie ever made. I might object to that slightly. For me, that honor is currently held by Carol Reed's "The Third Man". But I agree with the general sentiment. While Michael Powell may be better known for "The Red Shoes", I would argue that this might be his true masterpiece.There is the romance, the humor, the mix of fantasy and reality blended together perfectly. This also happens to be a courtroom drama. Just about any genre could find a spot in this film. Well, besides perhaps horror. But it really is a nearly perfect film... and I cannot think of anything that might make it more perfect.

Since I thought Kim Hunter was not up to snuff for "A Streetcar Named Desire" I was thoroughly impressed with her beauty in this crazy number. Exterior shots were not her friend tho but decent acting nonetheless.I did laugh through most of this nutjob ride especially when the new arrivals were picking out their wings vs props. Yet I never saw anyone wear them in the entire film. They probably got tired of gluing them on and knocking them off at Craft Services.The most interesting aspect of this film was trying to figure out who in history I would most like to represent me to keep me from such a lovely existence in Heaven. I first thought of Alexander the Great because he would have liked the French cutie who came to earth with that adorable outfit and would try to impress him. Miracles happen all the time, why does the survival of a pilot have to be such a conundrum? Oh, so we can put the Americans on trial, gotcha! Ol' Bug Eye Massey comes to the rescue to really highlight the age old rivalry between the two countries and picks an all male jury which of course gets replaced instantly with current military men, natch.I will say I was on the edge of my seat waiting for some dancing to bust out on those steps ala Fred n Ginger but alas the famous statues had to suffice, crap.Not sure I can recommend this for any particular reason because there is so much better tripe about Heaven around. However, you do get to hear a wee lecture on the layout of the Universe. Only thousands, not BILLIONS of stars?? Carl Sagan turning in his grave.