Emeric Pressburger born Imre József Pressburger 5 December 1902 5 February 1988 was a Hungarian British screenwriter film director and producer He is best known for his series of film collaborations with Michael Powell in an awardwinning collaboration partnership known as the Archers and produced a series of films notably 49th Parallel 1941 The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp 1943 A Matter of Life and Death 1946 also called Stairway to Heaven Black Narcissus 1947 The Red Shoes 1948 and The Tales of Hoffmann 1951