The Masters  
The Powell & Pressburger Pages

Dedicated to the work of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and all the other people, both actors and technicians who helped them make those wonderful films.

A lot of the documents have been sent to me or have come from other web sites. The name of the web site is given where known. If I have unintentionally included an image or document that is copyrighted or that I shouldn't have done then please email me and I'll remove it.

I make no money from this site, it's purely for the love of the films.

[Any comments are by me (Steve Crook) and other members of the email list]

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The Plot: How and why the film was made


In 1944, Powell and Pressburger wanted to make their film about why the British and the Americans should get along (A Matter of Life and Death) but were delayed because there were no Technicolor cameras available. (They were mainly being used to make US Army training films)

So they decided to make another film while they waited.

Emeric Pressburger: "Let's make a film about a girl who wants to get to an island, but who is delayed from getting there and when she can get there she no longer wants to."

Michael Powell: "Why does she want to go there?"

Emeric Pressburger: "Let's make the film and find out."


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