Powell and Pressburger always started their films wonderfully (eg even the flat One of Our Aircraft is Missing had haunting opening images of the plane flying through the mountains). They never had a more stunning opening that this – with David Niven flying a plane with his crew all dead, knowing he’s going to die, talking to Kim Hunter. It follows this up with some incredible visuals: the boy playing flute on the beach, Niven and Hunter among the blossoms, the stairway to Heaven, Roger Livesey perving on the entire village., the final trial.
It looks so amazing that it takes a while to notice that the story is a bit silly – Niven is meant to have died but slips through the cracks and attempts to argue he should stay on earth. That’s not so bad but the main argument he should die is because he’s British – as argued by American Revolutionary Raymond Massey – so you know the arguments aren’t going to be strong.
Niven is superb - is this is best performance? It feels so close to what I imagine the real Niven to be like - intelligent, charming, brave, a little insecure and sad. There's an aura of melancholy about his performance. Kim Hunter is another in a long line of sensible, pretty Powell heroines (although this one isn't a red head). Livesey's character is interesting - what sort of doctor perves on a whole town? And he really goes the extra mile for Niven and Hunter (giving up his life for her) - is he in love with Hunter?
A remarkable, audacious and romantic film, if a bit dim in places. Oh, and it's one of the rare war films around the time that gives attention (if only in passing) to the Indian and Gurkha soldiers who fought for Britain, and Chinese and African Americans.
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