Directed by Michael Powell and beautifully photographed by Jack Cardiff (the team also responsible for Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes), this classic from 1946 is a sumptuous feast for the eyes.
The film is about a British wartime pilot (David Niven) who cheats death, following a wartime air crash, and then must argue for his life before a celestial court, after falling in love with an army radio operator, played by Kim Hunter (future Oscar winner for A Streetcar Named Desire). It was somewhat controversial at the time, as Earth was presented in vibrant Technicolor, with "Heaven" shown to be in standard black and white.
The color strike on this film is so breathtakingly beautiful and crystal clear that I felt as if I was watching the story unfold outside my window, rather than on my television.
This wasn't even a Blu-Ray disc, either.
It has been said the drab and infamously foggy weather of England (where this film and the two others listed above were shot) played a huge role in how color films appear on screen. Some believe the misty air creates a natural diffusion, giving these films, in particular, a soft, almost dream-like look.
The movie is quite good as well, I highly recommend it.
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