The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

The Archers’ first big achievement and one of the most incredible epics in the history of cinema. The title of the film derives from a popular comic strip from the 1930s and 40s which mocked British militarism. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp chronicles the adventures and disappointments of Clive Wynne-Candy (Roger Livesey). In 1902 he is a high-flyer fighting for England’s honour, yet four decades later, during World War II, he seems to be just a whiskered relic of the past. Blimp became famous even before its premiere thanks to Winston Churchill who was opposed to making this blood-and-thunder story, ambiguous in terms of its propagandist qualities. Today we can clearly see that contemporaneous political needs inspired a meditation on Britishness, evanescence, war, and love (a young Deborah Kerr plays three different roles). This panache is accompanied by an inimitable studio style: scenography colours the past and the Technicolor cinematography is supreme.

Sebastian Smoliński

4K restoration completed in 2012 by the Academy Film Archive in association with the BFI, ITV Studios Global Entertainment Ltd., and The Film Foundation. Restoration funding provided by The Material World Charitable Foundation, The Louis B Mayer Foundation, Cinema per Roma Foundation, and The Film Foundation. Supported by Simon and Harley Hessel. Restoration consultants: Martin Scorsese & Thelma Schoonmaker Powell.