Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Considered by many to be the finest British film ever made, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, is a stirring masterpiece like no other. Roger Livesey dynamically embodies outmoded English militarism as the indelible General Clive Candy, who barely survives four decades of tumultuous British history, 1902 to 1942, only to see the world change irrevocably before his eyes. Anton Walbrook and Deborah Kerr provide unforgettable support, he as a German enemy turned lifelong friend of Candy’s and she as young women of three consecutive generations—a socially committed governess, a sweet-souled war nurse, and a modern-thinking army driver—who inspire him. Colonel Blimp is both moving and slyly satirical, an incomparable film about war, love, aging, and obsolescence, shot in gorgeous Technicolor.
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION 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
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: A new essay by critic Molly Haskell
New cover by Fred Davis
Collector's Sets
Collector's Set
BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION 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
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: A new essay by critic Molly Haskell
New cover by Fred Davis
Cast
- Anton Walbrook
- Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff
- Deborah Kerr
- Edith Hunter, Barbara Wynne, “Johnny” Cannon
- Roger Livesey
- Clive Candy
- Roland Culver
- Colonel Betteridge
- Harry Welchman
- Major Davies
- Arthur Wontner
- Embassy counselor
- Albert Lieven
- Von Ritter
- John Laurie
- Murdoch
- James McKechnie
- Spud Wilson
- Ursula Jeans
- Frau von Kalteneck
Credits
- Director
- Michael Powell
- Director
- Emeric Pressburger
- Written and produced by
- Michael Powell
- Written and produced by
- Emeric Pressburger
- Production design
- Alfred Junge
- Director of photography
- Georges Périnal
- Editor
- John Seabourne
- Music composed and arranged by
- Allan Gray
- Conductor
- Charles Williams
- Sound
- C. C. Stevens
- Sound
- Desmond Dew
- Costumes designed by
- Joseph Bato
- Costumes executed by
- Matilda Etches
- Military adviser
- Lieutenant General Sir Douglas Brownrigg
- Period advisers
- E. F. E. Schoen
- Period advisers
- Dr. C. Beard
- Cameramen
- Geoffrey Unsworth
- Cameramen
- Jack Cardiff
- Cameramen
- Harold Haysom
- Process shots
- W. Percy Day
