Cast the Expert: RAF survivors played themselves in the Other World's High Court, alongside 72 real Red Cross nurses and 25 WACs who also played themselves in the country house base where they were stationed. They donated their earnings to the Red Cross. Richard Attenborough, who has a cameo an English pilot, was also in the RAF.
Cast the Runner-Up: Marius Goring was offered the role of the Conductor, but insisted that he wanted to play Peter instead; however, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were set on David Niven playing the part, and eventually told Goring that the Conductor was his only choice: if he turned it down, they would approach Peter Ustinov to play the part.
Completely Different Title: The film was released in America as Stairway to Heaven. Some European countries released it as A Question of Life and Death.
Fake American: It is ironic that Raymond Massey plays the British-hating American Farlan because, as a Canadian, Massey actually became popular as an actor in London.
From Entertainment to Education: An actual medical paper was written by Diane Friedman describing the film's unusually accurate depiction of a real medical condition, with clinically accurate dialogue used by characters and symptoms portrayed accurately, in addition to the surgical details.
Throw It In!: Marius Goring improvised Conductor 71's line about Technicolor on the day and Michael Powell decided to keep it in.
What Might Have Been: A remake was announced by Columbia Pictures in 1981, who acquired the remake rights to several Rank films in the late 1970snote The Blue Lagoon was one of these to star John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. It was going to be produced by Ray Stark and directed by Richard Rush. The project fell through after the dismal box office performance of Annie.
describing the film's unusually accurate depiction of a real medical condition, with clinically accurate dialogue used by characters and symptoms portrayed accurately, in addition to the surgical details.