A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

In the tumultuous throes of World War II, Captain Peter Carter, the lone survivor aboard a Lancaster bomber returning from a mission over Europe, grapples with his impending doom. His plane is grievously damaged, his parachute shredded, and his courage the only thing keeping him from succumbing to fear. Instead of surrendering to the inevitable, he reaches out to June, an American radio operator with Allied forces, painting a poignant portrait of resilience in the face of certain death. In a twist of fate, Peter, who was supposed to plummet to his death, miraculously awakens on a picturesque English beach. His only souvenir from the ordeal is a mild headache, and an inexplicable chance at life. When he meets June, the voice who comforted him in his darkest hour, their connection deepens into a profound love. But this second chance at life was a clerical error in the heavens — he was meant to die, but a wayward celestial messenger, confounded by the thick English fog, missed him. When the heavenly conductor finally catches up with him, Peter, now deeply in love and unwilling to leave his newfound life, demands a trial for his fate. He argues that the celestial blunder has gifted him a love he wouldn't have otherwise found, and thus, he deserves to remain on Earth. Intriguingly, the heavens agree to a celestial trial, setting the stage for a unique battle of wit and will. Peter must now fight not just for his life, but for his love and the chance of a life that was never supposed to be his. This captivating tale weaves together the threads of love, fate, and divine intervention in a world teetering on the brink of destruction.

A Matter of Life and Death is a comedy movie featuring David Niven.

A Matter of Life and Death is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV and it's also available on Classix.