DVD of the Week#5 – The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1943)What does it mean to be British? That's the question posed by Powell and Pressburger in their greatest film, a three-hour meander through the life of a colonial soldier turned Home Guard instructor, played by Roger Livesey – giving the performance of a lifetime.
The film begins with a 1943 "war game", as a group of cocky young recruits make their stout, ruddy, aged adversary look thoroughly ridiculous, surprising him ahead of schedule in a Turkish bath.
"What do you know about me?" the old man asks in response to their mockery. "You laugh at my big belly, but you don't know how I got it! You laugh at my moustache, but you don't know why I grew it! How do you know what sort of man I was; when I was as young as you?"
Flashing back, we learn his story, from Boer War gallantry to utter redundancy, until he finally realises that his ideals of chivalry and honesty are outmoded in the face of Nazism, and finds a new lease of life. This is also the story of Wynn-Candy's love for three women - all played by Deborah Kerr, who leaves an indelible impression.
Colonel Blimp is not only the most moving film I've ever seen, it's also the most British, with a subtle, intelligent patriotism rooted in tolerance and humanity that permeates every frame. Witty, good humoured and with a deep-rooted faith in the redemptive power of tea, it crystallises the national character.
Not that everyone saw it that way. Winston Churchill may have been a great wartime leader, but he was a lousy film critic, encouraging the Ministry of Information to obstruct the movie's production, and then its release*.
The root of Churchill's ire is thought to have been the distinction the film draws between Nazis and ordinary Germans, the "caricaturing" of certain military types and the sympathetic German character portrayed by Anton Walbrook. The film was also "defeatist", his office said.
In a memo to Churchill, MoI officer Brendan Brackton looked on the bright side: "We have no had an official letter from Mr Rank, the producer of the film, informing us that he would like to show it in America and in the Empire. As the film is so boring, I cannot believe that it will do any harm abroad to anyone except the country which made it."
But without the Government's intervention, the film may not have been the masterpiece that it is. They prevented Powell and Pressburger from casting Laurence Olivier in the lead and thus softened the central character, who's about as far removed from the boor of the comic strip as it's possible to be.
Working from a script of unparalleled lyricism from regular collaborator Pressburger, Powell created a Technicolor wonder that mixes character study, history lesson and state-of-the-nation address to create something truly unique.
There are so many wondrous scenes in
Colonel Blimp that it seems unjust to single out one, but Wynn-Candy's furious, heartbroken reaction to finding that his speech at the BBC has been scrapped is one of the great monologues. "What was your position before this (war), sir?" he asks. "Lawyer," the director murmurs.
"What? A lawyer! Well, I was a soldier," Wynn-Candy replies. "And before that, I suppose you were at college. And I was a soldier. And I was a soldier when you were a baby, and before you were born, sir, when you were nothing but a toss-up between a girl's and a boy's name - I was a soldier then!"
He stops. "I'm deeply sorry, sir. I know it's not you."
I'm welling up just writing it.
With
The Searchers and
Hoop Dreams, this is one of the three best films I've ever had the good fortune to see (and rewatch, endlessly). It's a must-buy for everyone, except my Uncle, as I got him a copy for Christmas.
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is available for around £5 on Region 2 DVD.If you have a multi-region DVD player, then the Region 1 (American) DVD, on the Criterion label, is highly recommended. As well as an audio commentary with director Michael Powell and Martin Scorsese, it has some of David Low's Blimp cartoons, a heap of rare on-set photos and a collection of memos concerning the film's controversial production.
Both Region 1 and 2 discs contain a 23-minute documentary about the film, featuring Stephen Fry and Kevin MacDonald. Some reviewers have questioned the reddish print of
Colonel Blimp on the American disc, but both DVDs look great to me.
* Churchill's favourite film was reportedly
100 Men and a Girl - a vehicle for Canadian child star Deanna Durbin, which he supposedly viewed as a treat following military victories.
DVD of the Week archive#1 - Let's Get Lost (Bruce Weber, 1988)
#2 - Charley Varrick (Don Siegel, 1973)#3 - The Black Cat (Edgar G. Ulmer, 1934)
#4 - The Raven (Lew Landers, 1935)
