The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Despite Winston Churchill’s numerous attempts to suppress its production, The Archers successfully completed another audacious masterpiece, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, in the height of WWII. The film, known to be Emeric Pressburger’s favorite of his own works, depicts the story of General Candy’s (Roger Livesey) forty years of life through flashbacks. The film combines an incredible ensemble of artistries through its art and production design, costumes, and props—including the “borrowed” military uniforms and gadgets—and unparalleled execution of intricate blocking wonderfully choreographed to the music scores by Allan Gray.

DIRECTED/WRITTEN BY: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger. WITH: Anton Walbrook, Deborah Kerr, Roger Livesey, Roland Culver. 1943. 163 min. UK. Technicolor. English, French, German. DCP.

Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation. 

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