A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
Bonar Colleano
- An American Pilot
- (as Bonor Colleano)
Robert Arden
- GI Playing Snout
- (uncredited)
Robert Beatty
- US Crewman
- (uncredited)
Eric Cawthorne
- Goatherd
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe first scene shot was David Niven washing up on the beach. Originally planned to fade in from black, Michael Powell decided on the spot that the effect would be too cheesy. When Jack Cardiff told him to look through the camera, Cardiff then deliberately breathed onto the lens, which fogged the glass for a few seconds until it evaporated. Powell loved the idea and had him use it for the shot.
- GoofsAfter Peter's second encounter with the Heavenly Messenger, this time in Frank's library, the doctor and June desperately attend to Peter's condition. June kneels in front of Peter and begins to giggle uncontrollably, then expertly hides herself behind Frank to avoid the camera.
- Quotes
Doctor Frank Reeves: A weak mind isn't strong enough to hurt itself. Stupidity has saved many a man from going mad.
- Crazy creditsForeword (Scrolled up the screen at the start of the film): This is a story of two Worlds the one we know and another which exists only in the mind of a young airman whose life & imagination have been violently shaped by war [Pauses, then scrolls up to reveal] Any resemblance to any other world known or unknown is purely coincidental.
- Alternate versionsThe US release was cut to avoid showing the naked shepherd boy in the sand dunes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Story of Making the Film They're a Weird Mob (1966)
- SoundtracksScherzo
(1842) (uncredited)
from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"
Written by Felix Mendelssohn
Played on a record at the Shakespeare rehearsal
Featured review
Enchanting, romantic, innovative, and funny. The vision of this extraordinary film is almost unparalleled, exceeding better known "death romances" such as Ghost. While we know intuitively that Peter and June will find ultimate happiness at the end of that long-long stairway, the joy is in the journey. The moral of the tale, of course, is timeless: love conquers all. But the struggle to achieve that victory is played in a celestial arena of sweeping vision and gripping grandeur. With more than 500 suitably clad extras portraying various ages and cultures, the directors' vision of heaven remains memorable six decades later, far into the CGI era.
Yet for all the cosmic scale, Powell and Pressburger knew an essential truth: the best story is told at the smallest level. The wonderfully, determinedly romantic aspect of "Stairway" is captured with ultimate simplicity: June's teardrop, preserved on a rose petal.
This film, like the story and the set itself, is one for the ages.
Yet for all the cosmic scale, Powell and Pressburger knew an essential truth: the best story is told at the smallest level. The wonderfully, determinedly romantic aspect of "Stairway" is captured with ultimate simplicity: June's teardrop, preserved on a rose petal.
This film, like the story and the set itself, is one for the ages.
- btillman63
- Apr 21, 2004
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Escalera al cielo
- Filming locations
- Saunton Sands, Devon, England, UK(beach: The Burrows)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- £320,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $179,059
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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