Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were true visionaries of British film, creating glorious technicolor cinematic masterpieces including A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948).
Delving into their magical, mystical and obsessive worlds, this lavishly illustrated publication – which ties in with a major BFI exhibition and film programme – presents fresh perspectives on the film-making duo, shining the spotlight not only on them, but also on their circle of talented collaborators, including cinematographer Jack Cardiff, designers Alfred Junge and Hein Heckroth and composers Brian Easdale and Allan Gray. The book's high profile contributors consider the concept of influence, too: those who had an impact on Powell and Pressburger's creative development, and the vast range of contemporary voices - from director Martin Scorsese to musician Kate Bush - who have found themselves haunted by their stories and images. Drawing on the BFI's stunning design and archive collections, as well as key objects held in other public and private collections, many of the images presented here are unique, previously unseen and unpublished.
