The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Film Still

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

United Kingdom

1943

163 minutes

Color

1.33:1

English

173

Synopsis

The passions and pitfalls of a lifetime in the military are dramatized in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s magnificent epic, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. The film follows the exploits of pristine British soldier Clive Candy (Roger Livesey) as he battles to maintain his honor and proud gentlemanly conduct through romance, three wars, and a changing world. Vibrant and controversial, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is at once a romantic portrait of a career soldier and a pointed investigation into the nature of aging, friendship, and obsolescence.

Cast

Clive CandyRoger Livesey
Theo Kretschmar-SchuldorffAnton Walbrook
Edith Hunter, Barbara Wynne, “Johnny” CannonDeborah Kerr
Spud WilsonJames McKechnie
Colonel BetteridgeRoland Culver
Major DaviesHarry Welchman
Embassy CounsellorArthur Wontner
von RitterAlbert Lieven
MurdochJohn Laurie

Credits

DirectorMichael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Written, produced, and directed byMichael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
CinematographyGeorges Perinal
EditingJohn Seabourne Sr.
MusicAllan Gray
ConductorCharles Williams
SoundC.C. Stevens and Desmond Dew
Costumes designed byJoseph Bata
Costumes executed byMatilda Etches
Military advisorLieut.-General Sir Douglas Brownrigg
Chief control of color departmentNatalie Kalmus
CameramenGeoffrey Unsworth, Jack Cardiff and Harold Hayson

Disc Features

  • New high-definition digital transfer of the British Film Institute’s restoration of the original full-length version of the film
  • Audio commentary featuring director Michael Powell with Martin Scorsese
  • Carlton International’s 24-minute video profile, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
  • A collection of rare behind-the-scenes and production stills
  • A collection of David Low’s original Colonel Blimp cartoons
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing-impaired
  • Optimal image quality; RSDL dual-layer edition

From the Current

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

by Ronald Haver Oct 21, 2002

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is one of the great works of art in the history of film, and yet, except for some recent television screenings, this British production is largely unknown in the United States. This is primarily due to the obscurity . . .

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An absolute gem

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