The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp details
| Formats: | U DVD, Blu-ray |
|---|---|
| Starring: | A.E. Matthews, Deborah Kerr, Valentine Dyall, Roland Culver, Anton Walbrook, Val, Ursula Jeans, Roger Livesey, Albert Lieven, Felix Aylmer, John Laurie |
| Directors: | Emeric Pressburg, Michael Powell, Emeric Pressbu |
| Genre: | Drama - Thriller |
| Studio: | ITV STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp |
U Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 3 hours 2 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 13 May 2002 |
| Main languages: | English |
| Hearing impaired subtitles: | English |
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Most helpful review
The greatest British film of all time
By Savage (632 reviews) from London, England , 09 Nov 2006[Highly rated reviewer]
Powell and Pressburger's masterpiece is actually slightly misleadingly titled. There is no character called Colonel Blimp in the film; there's not even a Colonel in it; and the central character (whose name is Clive Candy) doesn't die. Blimpishness, named after a cartoon strip character created by David Low, was a sort backward-looking pomposity, apparently espoused by Candy in the opening section of the film, but the Archers' idea was to expose not just the reality behind it (Candy is a VC-decorated hero and a thoroughly decent sort), but that the idea itself not only had died, but must die. The Nazis were not soldiers, in the old sense, but gangsters, and had to be dealt with as such.
Given this, the propagandist elements of the film are present and correct, making it all the more incredible that Churchill should have disliked the screenplay so much that he refused to sanction Laurence Olivier's appearance in the central role. We may say thank goodness he did, since Roger Livesey, balancing artifice and art to a niceness, gives the single greatest performance you will ever see by a British actor. Perhaps Winston suspected he himself was being slyly satirised.
Some of the components that go to making this the best ever British film are obvious: Georges Perinal's sublimely rich Technicolor cinematography, the acting, the rousing score, the thrilling motorcycle opening, but it goes deeper than that. P&P are also trying to examine the best of Britishness (hence, perhaps, the best of Blimpishness), the profoundly romantic yearning for something better for everybody set off against the flinty, stiff-upper-lip exterior. I defy anyone to watch the final section of this film without weeping.
It really is that good.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(34)Don't hesitate, watch this film
By BayviewCrew (2 reviews) , 13 Feb 2013An unexpectedly good film. Some movies of that era now feel decidedly dated but somehow this film did not. It is difficult to believe that it was made in 1943 when there so many shortages and so many difficulties. The acting was of its time but Anton Walbrook deserves special mention for his heartfelt monologue near the end. An outstanding example of Powell & Pressburger's work- Was this review helpful to you?
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Beautiful restoration of a thoughtful film
By watfordcanary (1 review) , 05 Jan 2013This is one of my favourite films, beautifully written, beautifully acted and beautifully shot, this last brought out particularly in the restored print. I had only seen the previous DVD version and was blown away by how great this new restoration looks. There is an interesting little film in the extras which explains why and how it was done. As for the film itself, the balance between youth and experience and the recognition of the complex nature of Anton Walbrook's character, particularly in his statement to the alien registration officers, are excellent. All of the cast are on top form and with this and the Third Man I would be happy on my desert island.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Fabulous Blu-ray
By SteveJC (7 reviews) , 01 Jan 2013[Highly rated reviewer]
I'm not reviewing the film here - which I love. Instead I wanted to say that the blu-ray contains a fabulous restoration of the movie. Recently restored in 4K, the film looks spectacular. Definition and clarity are often quite extraordinary. The colours are stable and the film has a pleasing natural look. All in all a first rate transfer. If only all catalogue blu-rays could look this good!- Was this review helpful to you?
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Great film-making rather than a great film
By BenLaw (32 reviews) , 09 Dec 2012Having just watched Michael Powell's Peeping Tom, which I consider a masterpiece, I decided to fill some of the gaps in my Powell & Pressburger knowledge. I was worried at the three hour runtime but hopeful that Roger Livesey (brilliant in P&P's A Matter of Life and Death) and Deborah Kerr (fantastic in The Innocents) would see me through.
It's a completely different film, but Blimp shares a few things with Peeping Tom. It was on the cutting edge of film-making (for example the stunning joust sequence ending in a retreat to an external shot, and the shooting trophy montage) and it was deeply controversial and contrary to mainstream morality. For a film released at the height of WWII to suggest that at least some Germans might be ok really was truly daring.
This is certainly a film of great scope and imagination. Pressburger's love of England is apparent, the acting does not disappoint, with Anton Walbrook an unexpected revelation, and Powell shows his supreme directing abilities. The opening shot following soldiers speeding on motorcycles is a great start and there are frequent superb setpieces throughout the film.
The difficulties with the film are its relevance and pace. The film is an exposition as to why an aged General would be how he was 'today', in particular why he was so out of touch with modern warfare. There is still an odd nostalgia for Edwardian European cafes and military chivalry. But in an age where the warfare of WWII is at least as outdated to us as WWII is to Clive Candy, its hard to care. And to drag out three life episodes, the latter two of which are fairly mundane, over nearly three hours really feels like a bit much.
It must be said that the blu ray of this film looks absolutely stunning. It's hard to believe it ever looked this good, but technicolour proves its brilliance. It is better than many contemporary films. Overall, this is a good film and probably an important film, just don't expect to be pulled along by it throughout its run time.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Couldn't get into it
By Tuxydo (13 reviews) , 23 Nov 2011Maybe it gets better later, but had to terminate it after about 5 minutes. It felt like watching people from another boring planet.- Was this review helpful to you?
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