During a collaborative heyday that spanned the 1940s into the early 1950s, British director Michael Powell (1905-1990) and Hungarian-born screenwriter Emeric Pressburger (1902-1988)–or, as per their production company stamp, “The Archers”–crafted A Matter of Life and Death (A.K.A Stairway to Heaven) (1946), Black Narcissus (1947), The Red Shoes (1948), and several more of the most enduring and influential films to ever come out of the United Kingdom.
Martin Scorsese has been a lifelong devotee of their efforts, and he offers enthusiastic service as narrator and co-executive producer on the new documentary regarding their collaboration, Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger (2024), now arriving on DVD and Blu-ray.
The Archers’ initial output was largely constituted of WWII-era flag-wavers such as Contraband (1940) and 49th Parallel (1941), but through the war years and beyond, their efforts became increasingly assured, often filled with fantasy elements and spectacular use of color, with other highlights including The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), I Know Where I’m Going! (1945), and The Tales of Hoffman (1951).
Which of Powell and Pressburger’s films is your favorite? Be sure to share your observations in the comments!