Two Interesting Powell Films
Michael Powell is the British director famous for such film classics as "The Red Shoes," "Black Narcissus," and "Tales of Hoffmann."  "The Films of Michael Powell" features two of Powell's lesser-known movies, "A Matter of Life and Death" (1946) (known in the U.S. as "Stairway to Heaven") and "Age of Consent" (1969).<br /><br />"A Matter of Life and Death" stars David Niven as RAF pilot Peter Carter who falls in love with Boston-born radio operator June (Kim Hunter) just as he is plummeting to the ground in a burning plane.  Lost in a heavy fog, Peter can't be found by the powers-that-be in heaven, which causes quite a stir.  Because he has lived for 20 hours beyond the time he was supposed to die, what is his status?  Should he remain on earth or should heaven claim him?  The film's climax features an elaborate trial in which Peter must testify for his life.<br /> The film is one of the oddest love story fantasies ever.  June and Peter basically fall in love with each others' voices when Peter is certain he will die.  Then, he quite conveniently finds June bicycling home and romances her as if they've been a couple for years.<br /><br />Powell creates an intriguing premise and fashions a beautiful looking film with scenes on earth filmed in Technicolor and those in heaven shot in black and white.  Often, images drift from color to black and white or vice versa.  The director's concept of a massive escalator-type stairway leading from earth to heaven with statues of famous statesmen and philosophers flanking both sides is memorable, as is the trial witnessed by thousands.  Since the film predates CGI technology, those extras are real flesh-and-blood people, not computer programmers' digitalization.  The film costars Raymond Massey as the chief prosecutor at Peter's heavenly trial and Abraham Sofaer as a bewigged judge.<br /><br />After Powell released the voyeuristic psychological thriller "Peeping Tom" (1960), he was unable to get work in England.  "Age of Consent" was made in Australia, stars James Mason, and costars Helen Mirren in her first movie role.  Bradley Monahan (Mason), a successful New York artist, is weary of the superficiality of the big-city art scene and has lost his passion for painting.  He returns to his native Australia, taking up residence in a shack on the beach on an island along the Great Barrier Reef.  There he hopes inspiration will return.  There are a few other inhabitants of the island -- a love-starved woman living on annuity, a drunken old crone, and her teenage granddaughter, Cora (Mirren).<br /><br />Intrigued by Cora's youth and beauty, Bradley wastes little time in having her pose for him, often in the nude.  "Age of Consent" is slow getting underway, but once Mirren comes into the picture, things take an interesting turn.  Mason, known for his urbane, sophisticated roles, is cast against type as an overage beachcomber hippie, but it is Mirren who absolutely glows.<br />The photography by Hannes Staudinger is breathtaking, especially the crystal-clear underwater shots featuring a skimpily clad or completely nude Mirren.  This is by no means the Helen Mirren of "The Queen."  "Age of Consent" was to be Powell's last film.  He died in 1990.<br /><br />Bonus extras include introductions to both movies by Martin Scorsese, a champion of Powell's films.  Among the extras for "Age of Consent" are a making-of featurette, a conversation with Helen Mirren, and a featurette about filming on the Great Barrier Reef.
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 {"Aspect Ratio": "1.33:1, 1.85:1", "Is Discontinued By Manufacturer": "Yes", "MPAA rating": "R (Restricted)", "Product Dimensions": "7.75 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 7.2 Ounces", "Item model number": "5068369", "Director": "Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell", "Media Format": "Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Subtitled", "Run time": "3 hours and 31 minutes", "Release date": "January 6, 2009", "Actors": "David Niven, Kim Hunter, Robert Coote, Kathleen Byron, Richard Attenborough", "Subtitles": "English, French", "Language": "Unqualified (DTS ES 6.1)", "Studio": "Sony Pictures Home Entertainment", "Writers": "Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell, Norman Lindsay, Peter Yeldham", "Number of discs": "2"}

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