Classic Movies on Sky Arts - Series 4 Episode 2 - The Story of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

 

On Tuesday 17th December 2024 under the title "The Films of Powell and Pressburger", I reviewed a film I had just seen; The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. This followed watching a Sky Arts programme about these two directors that also included a mention of this movie. My review was certainly mixed, from " a bit of a jumble" to "far too long". It "is a light and witty movie" but I was not impressed by the huge switches in time. I was therefore interested to see what the team thought.

Ian Nathan started with the words that it was "a most peculiar epic, but that is what (Powell and Pressburger) wanted". Neil Norman said it was about so many things and Christina thought it was about "the changing British colonial mindset". It travels from the Boer war to world war two. However, there is no Colonel Blimp in the film, only that this newspaper satirical cartoon character from the 1930's and 40's  inspired this life story of Colonel Clive Candy. Played here by Roger Livesey. 

What was interesting was the reference to "the febrile atmosphere around 1942 against the officer class. In the film there is a "low level mutiny". I remember around the same time my father being pressed to train as an officer when he was quite happy as a corporal. And his joining others at the end of their training in Dundee, rolling down the road bleating like sheep.

Back to the film, and Ian Nathan tells us it's "what it means to grow old". He thinks that it is partly inspired by Powell and Pressburger's own film One of our Aircraft is Missing where age is a factor. And that Pressburger used so much of his own experiences. Add in a love story as Deborah Kerr plays all three different women in those three periods of Candy's life: a governess, a nurse and a driver. Christina says she is "always a smart and fiery character". 

Ian Nathan talks about "some wonderful sets" and where Christina adds "one of the most remarkable shots in cinema history" as the camera moves from inside the barracks where a duel is taking place, and tracks up through the glazed roof into the sky and then back down again outside where a carriage is waiting. Ian tells us about the relationship of Candy and Theo being central to the film. Neil Norman concludes it is "the pinnacle of the director's work together, it is so personal to them". Stephen Armstrong tells us if you are not careful,  "you will miss the most important moment of your life". Ian says it is a "satired celebration of Britishness". The film was restored and released in the 1980's. It does look wonderful.