The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
By October 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 Read more »
- United Kingdom
- 1943
- 163 minutes
- Color
- 1.33:1
- English
- Spine #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 & CreditsOpen
Cast
| Clive Candy | Roger Livesey |
| Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff | Anton Walbrook |
| Edith Hunter, Barbara Wynne, “Johnny” Cannon | Deborah Kerr |
| Spud Wilson | James McKechnie |
| Colonel Betteridge | Roland Culver |
| Major Davies | Harry Welchman |
| Embassy Counsellor | Arthur Wontner |
| von Ritter | Albert Lieven |
| Murdoch | John Laurie |
Credits
| Director | Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger |
| Written, produced, and directed by | Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger |
| Cinematography | Georges Perinal |
| Editing | John Seabourne Sr. |
| Music | Allan Gray |
| Conductor | Charles Williams |
| Sound | C.C. Stevens and Desmond Dew |
| Costumes designed by | Joseph Bata |
| Costumes executed by | Matilda Etches |
| Military advisor | Lieut.-General Sir Douglas Brownrigg |
| Chief control of color department | Natalie Kalmus |
| Cameramen | Geoffrey 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
