The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger Cast: Roger Livesey
Roger Livesey
, Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr
, Anton Walbrook
Anton Walbrook
, Roland Culver
Roland Culver
, James McKechnie
James McKechnie
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger Cast: Roger Livesey
Roger Livesey
, Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr
, Anton Walbrook
Anton Walbrook
, Roland Culver
Roland Culver
, James McKechnie
James McKechnie

Blu-ray

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Overview

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's much-lauded epic Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, which satirizes British traditionalism, stirred up impassioned hostilities and indignations among the Brits when released in 1943. It so infuriated Winston Churchill, in fact, that he refused to allow its exportation to other countries, particularly the U.S. When Blimp finally did premiere in the States in 1945, it screened in a drastically cut version. The sweeping story covers several decades. It begins at the tail end of the Boer War, when handsome young British officer Clive Candy, recently back from the battlefront, is infuriated by his discovery that Deutschland papers have played up the British atrocities in South Africa, propagandistically. He grows so irate, in fact, that he travels to Germany to address the problem. Once there, he meets an attractive British educator, Edith Hunter (Deborah Kerr) who spends her days teaching English as a second language to German students. They grow close, but Candy so aggravates the local indigenes that he winds up in a duel with a German officer, Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff (Anton Walbrook). The men wound each other and are sent to the same hospital, where they become friends. Candy - who doesn't yet realize he's fallen in love with Edith -- senses that Theo and Edith are attracted to one another, and encourages the couple's marital union. Candy subsequently returns to England, then falls for and marries Barbara (again played by Kerr), a nurse who bears a strong resemblance to Edith. She later dies, but Candy meets a third woman during WWII, Johnny (Kerr a third time), assigned to drive him from one locale to another during his campaigns. Meanwhile, Theo - disgusted by Nazi atrocities -- absconds to England, where he reencounters his old friend, now a prattering old shuffler rapidly approaching the end of his career and raving continuously about Nazi conduct (or lack thereof) in battle. Powell and Pressberger adapted Colonel Blimp from a comic strip; it became one of the hallmarks of their careers.

Product Details

Release Date: 03/19/2013
UPC: 0715515103619
Original Release: 1943
Source: Criterion
Region Code: A
Sound: [Dolby Digital Mono]
Language: English
Time: 2:43:00
Sales rank: 3,049

Special Features

New digital master from the film foundation's 2012 4K restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack; Audio commentary featuring director Michael Powell and filmmaker Martin Scorsese; New video introduction by Scorsese; A profile of "The life and death of Colonel Blimp," a documentary from 2000; Restoration demonstration, hosted by Scorsese; Optimism and sheer will, a 2012 interview with editor Thelma Schoonmaker Powell, Michael Powell's widow; Gallery featuring rare behind-the-scenes production stills; Gallery tracing the history of David Low's original Colonel Blimp cartoons; Plus: a booklet featuring an essay by critic Molly Haskell

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Roger Livesey Clive Candy
Deborah Kerr Barbara Wynne/Edith Hunter/Johnny Cannon
Anton Walbrook Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff
Roland Culver Col. Betteridge
James McKechnie Spud Wilson
Albert Lieven Von Ritter
Arthur Wontner Embassy Counsellor
David Hutcheson Hoppy
Ursula Jeans Frau von Kalteneck
John Laurie Murdoch
Harry Welchman Maj. Davis
Reginald Tate Van Zijl
A.E. Matthews President of Tribunal
Carl Jaffe Van Reumann
Valentine Dyall Von Schonborn
Muriel Aked Aunt Margaret
Felix Aylmer Bishop
Frith Banbury Babyface Fitzroy
Neville Mapp Stuffy Graves
Vincent Holman Club Porter, 1942
Spencer Trevor Period Blimp
James Knight Club Porter, 1902
Dennis Arundell Cafe Orchestra Leader
David Ward Kaunitz
Jan van Loewen Indignant Citizen
Eric Maturin Col. Goodhead
Robert Harris Embassy Secretary
Count Zichy Col. Berg
Jane Millican Nurse Erna
Phyllis Morris Pebble
Diana Marshall Sibyl
Capt. W. Barrett Texan
Thomas Palmer Sergeant
Yvonne Andree Nun
Marjorie Gresley Matron
Helen Debroy Mrs. Wynne
Norman Pierce Mr. Wynne
Edward Cooper B.B.C. Official
Joan Swinstead Secretary
Captain W. Barrett The Texan
Corp. Thomas Palmer Sergeant
Yvonne Andre Nun
Wally Patch Sergeant clearing debris
Ferdinand Mayne Prussian Student
John Varley Actor
Patrick Macnee Actor
John Boxer Soldier
Charles Williams Conductor
Allan Gray Composer

Technical Credits
Michael Powell Producer,Screenwriter
Emeric Pressburger Producer,Screenwriter
W. Day Special Effects
C.C. Stevens Sound/Sound Designer
Desmond Dew Sound/Sound Designer
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