Have never seen it; will have to give it a watch.
Posted on 07/21/2019 9:14:44 AM PDT by Rummyfan
The unintentional theme of this year's movie columns has been "accidental movies": ones I watched and ended up loving, despite a slow start or homely title.
So it's fitting that today I talk about Michael Powell's and Emeric Pressburger's The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943).
Based on its awkward moniker, I'd long assumed that The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp was one of those grimy, eat-your-spinach English anti-war comedies like The Bed Sitting Room and Oh, What a Lovely War. So what was it doing on so many "greatest movies of all time" (or at the very least, "Greatest British movies") lists?
Weirder still is that "Colonel Blimp" was a once-famous British cartoon character, a walrus-like blowhard spouting jingoistic clichés. His name quickly became a byword for Establishment ignorance and arrogance.
An unlikely inspiration for a superb film — until you recall that Coppola's The Godfather was based on a trashy "airport" novel, hastily written by an aging, unknown author who knew nothing about the Mafia, but was desperate to keep loan sharks from breaking his legs.
So to get a sense of what an awe-inspiring achievement today's movie is, imagine Wes Anderson — without a single ironic wink — turning Hagar the Horrible into an elliptical, enigmatic epic to rival Citizen Kane.
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
Have never seen it; will have to give it a watch.
It’s a great picture, have seen it several times and has a good cast. Yes the title is misleading but it’s a good watch.
TLADOCB is a beautiful film, start-to-finish, helped by the superb score by Allan Gray.
My kids usually groaned when I asked to watch Colonel Blimp yet again. It doesn’t move terribly fast. But when one of them experienced delayed, and ultimately unrequited, love as a young adult, she asked for that film. She got it at last, and now it’s one of her favorites.
Colonel Blimp and IKWIG are two of the finest romance films ever made, IMHO. You couldn’t do better for a brief escape back into a better age.
The Library of Congress has a film restoration building complex in Culpeper VA. When they finish working on one, they often play the film in their own theatre. I saw “Col. Blimp” there and enjoyed it, though my GF at the time, fell asleep pretty quickly.
OK, I’ll give it watch.
Recommend Moon - a very stark, simple, and moving Sci Fi flick, the Ipcress File, a great Brit spy flick, and Gattica a far too overlooked Sci Fi/alternate history romp.
I’ve never seen the movie but after finding some clips on Youtube I was impressed by the moral dilemma presented in the movie: do you adopt the despicable tactics of your enemy or do you surrender with the knowledge that you are an honorable person and will not stoop to the level of your enemy. This was played out in a clip that I have seen regarding the Nazis. And I think that it can be played out in real life anywhere. For example, do Republicans adopt the vicious tactics of the Democrats or do they not and lose honorably? It can be played out with pacifists: do pacifists not fight and retain their moral superiority (and let evil not only destroy themselves but their family and friends) or do they fight and feel like they have betrayed themselves? It is an interesting question.
Personally, I feel that by adopting evil tactics you don’t necessarily become totally evil: evil has not now taken over your whole being. Further, there is also the possibility forgiveness for the evils you have reluctantly done. The person who does not move but sticks adamantly to his morality could also perhaps be described as an egotist. Like the pacifist, he saves his soul but the people around him suffers. So it is a conundrum...
I have seen it 5 or 6 times, its really a great movie.
This has always been my least favorite Powell/Pressburger movie. My husand likes it very much. I prefer I Know Where I’m Going and Black Narcissus.
The "principled conservative" versus the real conservative [rough men and women].
"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."
I Know Where I’m Going and Black Narcissus.
Two of my faves.
Wonderful movies.
Black Narcissis has some of the most impactful
imagery in film.
Random Harvest - 1942. I tear up every time...
A veteran of World War I, Charles Rainier (Ronald Colman) has lost all memory of his life before the war. Left to wander, Rainier meets a showgirl, Paula (Greer Garson), with whom he falls in love. Rainier and Paula are soon happily married, but when Rainier travels out of town, a car hits him — erasing the memories of his life with Paula, but restoring those of his life before the war. While he returns to his previous life, Paula tries to find a way to be reunited with her husband.
“The “principled conservative” versus the real conservative [rough men and women].” That’s a good point!
Strange, isn’t it. You remember in that scene where Colman’s character is wandering around when the Armistice is announced? A crowd sings “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” I lose it every time I hear that song. I guess it reminds me of all the doughboys I knew as a child. They’re all gone now. Why should that song evoke such emotions, even more than “Over There” or better-known songs? Maybe its the rendition in that film.
Great movie, great cast, etc. You have great taste in films.
I haven’t found it yet, but am looking forward to it.
IKWIG is my favorite film, bar none. A poetic feast. BN is way up there, too.
“Ought to be a law about trees...”
Alistair MacLean referenced the character in his early novels.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.