A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

Also known as Stairway to Heaven

Charming "Heaven Can Wait"-type story. British pilot jumps without a parachute and is lost in the fog by his heavenly conductor. When heaven catches up with him later, he refuses to ascend because, in the meantime, he's fallen in love.

Niven is lovely as the pilot who argues that the error has changed the purpose of his life, and he's convincing enough to be awarded an opportunity to take it to court with anyone as his defender. I love that those around him (and we too) can't be sure that the "heaven" thing is real or a result of brain trauma since he claims that time and others stop when he receives visits from above. I was worried the medical questioning would take away from the magic, but it somehow works seamlessly -- making both possibilities able to co-exist.

My only complaint is that the trial scene goes on a little long. Still, even that scene made some very affecting points and actually brought tears of pride to my eyes when the multi-ethnic American jury was chosen.

B+