The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - Criterion Collection
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Movie Reviews of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - Criterion Collection
Movie Review: Mystery Man
Summary: 5 Stars
Everybody loves Michael Powell, and I suppose they'd better start with COLONEL BLIMP as a touchstone of his cinema. For all its virtues however, and even though I generally enjoy propaganda, I just didn't get it all, and some questions remain to haunt me.
Is Barbara Wynne, Candy's nurse wife of the post WWI period, supposed to be correct when she wrinkles up her nose while visiting the prisoner of war camp, when she remarks how creepy it is that Germans can murder innocent children and then sit down and listen to Mendelsohn wearing the same satanic uniform? If so, it doesn't seem as though she would care for Theo, and the screenplay makes sure that the two of them never meet. I think the fact of their un-meeting, as you might call it, is the central problem of the movie. What would have happened had they met up, a collision like nuclear fission that would have destroyed the house of cards Clive Candy has carefully constructed.
The flashback structure of the film makes perfect sense if you think of it as the spotty recollections of an old colonel (or old nation) looking back at some highlights, mistaking lowlights for same, and generally putting a shine on a bleak present. Don't you love the Technicolor that makes a jungle of parrots out of Barbara Wynne's country blouse and skirt outfit, she stands out like a macaw on a field of cut lawn. In his memoirs Powell describes himself as completely besotted with Deborah Kerr and her red hair, well, he gives it a good workout in this film, she looks fantastic in each of her parts, if a bit too stagily hardbitten as the modern, liberated driver Angela "Folks call me Johnny" Cannon.
Movie Review: One of the greatest, most humane films ever made.
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this film on Bravo (before they turned into a dumbed down reality network). The film, at the time, wasn't out on any home video format in its uncut version. Luckily, Bravo showed the original, 163 minute version. It was one of the most profound, humane, and intelligent films I have ever seen. Everything in this film works. Roger Livesy gives one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema. He plays Clive Candy from young man to elderly gentleman so convincingly. Anton Walbrook plays Candy's German friend is such depth and subtlety he makes you feel for all humanity. Winston Churchill attempted to ban the film in England (it was 1943), but luckily it was unsucessful. The film was a big hit in England. When it reached the states, it was cut by 70 minutes, and sometimes shown in black and white. Luckily, now the film is available only in the uncut verison. The commentary track by Michael Powell was recorded for an early laserdisc edition of this film. It's a commentary track worth listening to. Everyone nowadays does commentary (still waiting for a key grip to do one), but doesn't really have anything interesting to say. This is an exception. This is a magnficient epic film, one worth watching over and over again. It's typical of Powell and Pressburger films: visually spectaular, literate, humane, and brilliant. Movie Review: 6 STARS FOR COLONEL BLIMP - EASILY THE MOST SURPRISING & DELIGHTFUL FILM I'VE SEEN IN DECADES
Summary: 5 Stars
FIRST THOUGHTS: A VERY MODERN LOOKING MASTERPIECE OF ANTIQUITY
IN A NUTSHELL: THE BRITISH CITIZEN KANE & in COLOR!
Seeing this film today, for the first time somehow, I am struck by how modern this film looks, sounds and feels. Now restored by Criterion to its orignal 163 minute length, and again in flashback form, it is apparently a brilliantly composed and executed character portrait with a strong link to a bygone era. Often, this film has been referred to as - "the British Citizen Kane"! After seeing Colonel Blimp a half dozen times this week, I've concluded that perhaps "Citizen Kane" is the American "Colonel Blimp"!
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: SIMPLY STATED
This wonderful film is constructed upon a very simple and coherent theme; HOW DID THIS 70 YEAR OLD COLONEL BLIMP BECOME THE MAN HE IS TODAY? So we see, essentially, what he saw as he saw it, as he became Major General Clive Candy. And what a wonderful debacle his adult life, which spanned 40 years, was.
A STORY OF HOPE - IN THE END!
Through all of his trevails, Colonel blimp actually learned about the way of the world, without stooping to that level, to his credit. This of course led to his dismissal during the second world war, as the prevailing thoughts of the time suggested that chivalry and ethics were a dead issue if we were to defeat the Nazis.
Colonel blimp sees the difference between Germans and Nazis, a quality which caused the banning of this film at the time and the reason England refused it an export license. Colonel Blimp refused to become a barbarian or as the film shouts: WAR STARTS AT MIDNIGHT!!!! [not sooner for the sake of expedience]
Nevertheless, it still leaves that question to us, for an answer. Can we meet and even exceed the violence and underhandedness of our enemies to win the war, and yet still retain a higher level of civilization and decency than the foes we have sought to destroy for exactly those reasons? Robert McNamara recounted these same issues in "THE FOG OF WAR", Errol Morris, 2003.
Through it all Colonel Blimp always comported himself as a good English gentleman should and like most viewers he reminded me of someone I know and admire in my own family.
--* THE MAJOR PLAYERS * --
Roger Livesey - Clive Candy
Deborah Kerr - Barbara Wynne / Johnny Cannon / Edith Hunter
Anton Walbrook - Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff
Roland Culver - Col. Betteridge
Albert Lieven - Von Ritter
Spencer Trevor - Period Blimp
James McKechnie - Spud Wilson
Ursula Jeans - Frau von Kalteneck
John Laurie - Murdoch
--* THE PRODUCTION CREW *--
Michael Powell - Director / Producer / Screenwriter
Emeric Pressburger - Director / Producer / Screenwriter
Georges P?rinal - Cinematographer
Allan Gray - Composer (Music Score)
John Seabourne - Editor
Alfred Junge - Production Designer
Joseph Bato - Costume Designer
--* SOME MAJOR AWARDS *--
Best Picture (nom) 1945 National Board of Review
Best Actor (nom) Livesy, Roger 1945 New York Film Critics Circle
Best Direction (nom) Emeric Pressburger 1945 New York Film Critics Circle
Best Direction (nom) Michael Powell 1945 New York Film Critics Circle
Best Film (nom) Emeric Pressburger 1945 New York Film Critics Circle
Best Film (nom) Michael Powell 1945 New York Film Critics Circle
ABOUT THE DVD: RESTORED HIGH-DEFINITION DIGITAL TRANSFER IN COLOR
--- * DVD SPECIAL Features:
Available Subtitles: English
New high-definition digital transfer of the original full-length version of the film, restored by British Film Institute
Audio commentary featuring director Michael Powell with Martin Scorsese:
---* Martin Scorsese and Michael Powell teamed-up to give a brillant enthusiast commentary to provide excellent insight into this film. Mr. Powell, sadly, passed-away several months after his taped remarks, making his insights rather important. Mr. Scorsese told all about the history of restoring this film. How it had been reduced in running length by almost half and how the flash-back structure had been lost in the process. Even the original color prints were nearly impossible to find and many had forgotten that Colonel Blimp was shot in color - and incredible colors do pervade the restored film. The best thing about their commentary is that you can actually watch the film while they are delivering it, as both men only speak when they have something really important to tell and it pertains to the current happenings on screen.
Carlton International's 24-minute video profile
---* This featurette really peeked my interest in seeing this film and though I wish it were longer, it does add a temporal dimension to Colonel blimp.
A collection of rare behind-the-scenes and production stills from the collection of Michael Powell
A collection of David Low's original Colonel Blimp cartoons
BOTTOM LINE: SYMPATHETIC PORTRAIT OF A TRULY WONDERFUL DINOSAUR
The film leaves us with a lot ot reconcile.
-----* What is right?
-----* How much bad can we do and still do good in the end?
The film leaves us with these ageless questions for our own consciences to resolve.
IF THIS INTERESTS YOU ALSO CONSIDER SEEING:
-----* The Fog Of War, Errol Morris, 2003
Movie Review: Five stars--and not given lightly
Summary: 5 Stars
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is one of the finest films ever made, period. Michael Powell, a top director (49th Parallel) is at his finest as he masterfully recounts the tale of General Candy, an elderly British officer, in 1943. We see the life of a just-wonderful human being, heroic and dashing. As he evolves from a trim, swaggering youth of adventure to a stout and stoic old age, he never forgets his friends and never loses his faith in morality and justice, despite the travails of combat and personal loss.
Roger Livesy ('I Know Where I'm Going') is absolutely endearing as the lead and Deborah Kerr does a magnificent job in a triple-role! Anton Wallbrook is touching and credible as a German Officer befriended by Candy.
Lovingly restored to its original length and color magnificence, this film is touching and credible as it shows the human side of war without being preachy. There are many fine small performances and some surprising plot twists so that, despite its length, Blimp keeps viewers engaged.
By all means, a fine addition to any collection!
Movie Review: One of the best British films of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is one of the best films made by the Powell & Pressburger team. It is the best British film of the mid 1940's that I have seen. It is filmed in color and is stunning.
It is inspired by the British comic strip, Colonel Blimp written by David Low.
The film covers the life of a British soldier, Clive Candy, played by the great actor Roger Livesey, best known for his voice, who has been other Powell & Pressburger films. It starts around the turn of the century during the war in South Africa. When he spends time in Germany, he befriends a soldier while in a hospital. The film covers the two world wars and a reunion of th two soldiers.
The film has very fine acting and has a great cast. The DVD is loaded with very good special features.
There is audio commentary which was made in 1988 for the laserdisc version. the commentary is by co-director Michael Powell and Martin Scorsese, who is a big fan of the P&P films. Three are behind the scenes photos, a slideshow of original Colonel Blimp cartoons, and a 24 minute special about the film.
This is a must-see film!