Information
- BFI identifier104495
- Date1943-07-26 (Release)
- Production countryUnited Kingdom
- Production company
- SynopsisDrama tracing the life of a crusty old man of World War II to his military beginnings as a dashing young officer winning the VC in the Boer War. (Synopsis)
- Genre
- Subject
- CreditsDirected by: Michael Powell
Directed by: Emeric Pressburger
Production Company: Archers Film Productions
view all - CastAnton Walbrook (Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff)
Deborah Kerr (Edith Hunter/Barbara Wynne/Angela Cannon)
Roger Livesey (General Clive Wynne-Candy)
view full cast
Title
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Original)
Colonel Blimp (Alternative)
EIDR identifier
10.5240/BFF0-32B6-949E-E27A-1C4B-LCategory
FictionThis work is included in the BFI Filmography.
- Collections
- Film / Video
35mm Colour Positive - Safety - Combined - Viewing
35mm Colour Positive - Safety - Combined - Viewing
35mm Positive - Viewing
35mm Colour Positive - Safety - Combined - Viewing
35mm Positive - Polyester - Combined - Viewing
35mm Colour Positive - Polyester - Combined - Viewing
D3 - Video - Viewing
VHS cassette - Video - Viewing
view all - Scripts / DocumentsScript - Script type: Screenplay under the title THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SUGAR CANDY - SCR-11281
Ephemera: publicity - PBS-104495
Ephemera: publicity - The large pressbook for the film, Colonel Blimp, also known as The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. Content includes reviews, advertisements, promotional ideas and materials, and informational articles and interviews. Additional images from the film spread throughout. Stamped ‘N.T. Alex Collection’. Additional advertising included. 16 pages - PBL-104495
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp - WWII fantasy drama which follows the rise and fall of a career soldier, from dashing and brave young officer in the Boer War to a pompous and old-fashioned Colonel by the time of World War Two. While the film's central idea concerns the changing nature of warfare and the end of ‘gentlemen's rules' in the face of Nazi barbarity, the course of the film is side-tracked by various eccentric asides and elusive diversions, in a manner typical of the directors. The production was plagued with interference from the War Office , who were nervous that the film might seem to show Nazi sympathy and made fun of the British military. Churchill considered the film 'disgraceful', following its charity premiere on 10 June 1943 and ordered its overseas distribution blocked and prevented the film's US release despite protests from Rank [it was May 1945 before American audiences saw the film - albeit with 20 minutes cut]. Written , produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger; director of photography: Georges Perinal; production design: Alfred Junge; cast: Anton Walbrook, Deborah Kerr, Roland Culver, Harry Welchman, Major Davies, Arthur Wontner, Albert Lieven, John Laurie, Ursula Jeans [Wendy Hiller had been first choice for the multiple role of 'ideal woman' Edith/ Barbara/ Angela. But her pregnancy led Powell to make the bold casting decision of twenty year old Deborah Kerr in her place] Variety were filled with praise for the film [seen in its entirety] and commented 'Here is an excellent film whose basic story could have been told within usual feature limits, but which instead is extended to close to 3 hours. Longer or shorter, this panorama of British army life is depicted with a technical skill and artistry that marks it as one of the really fine pix to come out of a British studio' - MLP-1-1-52
Document: publicity - Large bound scrapbook / album containing only partially full of cuttings [UK and overseas] for both The Silver Fleet and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) includes cuttings which may be duplicate of those pasted into album MLP-1-1-51-5-1-2 Please note also contains press cuttings for LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP [see MLP-1-1-52] includes: - cuttings discussing the simultaneous - cuttings on the simultaneous 'double' venture of Silver Fleet and Life and Death of Colonel Blimp by the Archers [both to be released om 1943] - cuttings on the Technicolor team employed on the Blimp - colour article 'Waiting For Walbrook - The Picturegoing public knows what it wants. Critics may rave about certain films and the performances of certain artistes. But the public has a knack of discovering its own favourites. And judging by the postbag to this office, and by the voting in our Gold Medal Ballot, the public wants Anton Walbrook' Picturegoer 11 July 1942 - 'Low Visits Blimp' an account of Colonel Blimp cartoon creator David Low watching the filming in the studio [the Berlin restaurant scene in 1902] 'he finds Livesey's interpretaion of the role good, but the acid test has yet to come. ...Livesey has the right sort of voice, it pleases Low. But the paunch and the jowl have yet to come...Colonel Blimp is not dead, in spite of the rumours to the effect after his burial in a cartoon soon time ago. The Colonel still plays a leading part in contemporary life, and Low tells me he must reappear again. How soon this will be depends, I gather, on how he behaves himself' Evening Standard 5 August 1942 - feature on the film's leading lady 'Deborah Kerr stars with Ropger Livesey and Anton Walbrook in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Archers production in Technicolor now on the floor at Denham. Michael Powell, who is directing and producing in collaboration with Emeric Pressburger speaks in high terms of her work' The Cinema , 12 August 1942 - feature 'Anton Walbrook, refugee from Nazi Germany, speaks out for democracy' The Tatler and Bystander 28 October 1942 - feature on Michael Powell 'Hold it Miss Kerr...Now shoot! - The British film producer who has already made an enviable reputation as a man who is wholly concerned in the making of worth-while pictures is now engaged on a film which is based on forty years of British film history as symbolised by David Low's famous charcater...It carries a message of warning to the men and women of today - not to let the old rot set in again when peace is won and to remember that a Blimp becomes a Blimp not because he has bad qualities but rather because he failed to acquire new ones' The Tatler and Bystander 26 August 1942 - photo article on 'Deborah Kerr and her dogs' sharing the scene with Michael Powell's Spaniels Erik and Spangle The Tatler and Bystander 25 November 1942 - Deborah Kerr on the front page of Picture Post 19 December 1942 - MLP-1-1-51-5-1-2
Large and small press books held.
view all - Posters / DesignsDesign: production - Portion of café with orchestra plan for matte shot - PD-11
Design: production - Colonel Blimps house, hall with stairs, standing stuffed bear with tray to side - PD-143
Design: production - Colonel Blimps house,terrace with lounge chairs - PD-144
Design: production - Room with beamed ceiling, heavy wooden furniture, table centre with lighted candles - PD-145
Design: production - Turkish baths, plunge pool, showers - PD-146
view all - StillsPhotograph: digital - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00o-c34
Photograph: digital - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00o-c33
Photograph: digital - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00o-c32
Photograph: digital - Landscape - Colour - bfi-00o-c31
Photograph: publicity - Landscape - Black and White - SPD-9365367
view all - Articles
- Books
- Digital documentsBFI Southbank programme notes April 2015
BFI Southbank Programme Notes July 2015
BFI Southbank Programme Notes May 2017
available to view in BFI Reuben Library
- +The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Work - 104495 - 1943-07-26 (Release)
United Kingdom - Film - Fiction
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