The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

maquiladora

Did anyone else watch this on BBC2 earlier today?
I was stunned by how good it was, I can't believe it was made in 1943. Remarkable film.

mike65

I spotted it was on but to late to 'join' it. Next time maybe. Channel 4 had another Powell/Pressburger classic on yesterday - A Matter of Life and Death
which is another of thier classics.

The duo created some of the best films ever made over a 10-12 year period from 1941.

Mike.

BlitzKrieg

the archers (powell and Pressburger) made some of the greatest films ever.


A matter of life and death is one of my all time favourites.

and i recently seen bits of The Red Shoes (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040725/) absolutly amazing film.


The Life and Death of colonol blimp was the first one of theirs i saw (shockingly only 2 years ago) i quickly rented as many of their films as i could...and for the most part i enjoyed them completely.

maquiladora

I'll have to check out the rest of their work. I think I have seen one or two other Powell films years ago, but didn't realise he directed them at the time.

lodgepole

It's stunning isn't it? I can't believe it isn't more well known...

When I moved to Toronto a year ago I ordered the entire Criterion Collection from the library here and it came to me one DVD a week for the year... Blimp was one of the first to arrive. I'd buy it if it wasn't so damned expensive. The Criterion set is very impressive though, worth owning if you can pony up the cash.

Glad to see it being aired back home.

BlitzKrieg

what i think is great is some of clever techniques they use.

like in Blimp

the same actress plays all the love interests in the film, though they are different characters physically

can put most of todays films to shame with their creativity.

maquiladora

The cinematography and editing was also astonishingly creative. At times I got the same feeling I got when I watched Citizen Kane, of a film made out of its own time, a world away in terms of creativity and skill from its peers.

mycroft

maquiladora wrote:

The cinematography and editing was also astonishingly creative. At times I got the same feeling I got when I watched Citizen Kane, of a film made out of its own time, a world away in terms of creativity and skill from its peers.

The life and death of Colonel Blimp is generally regarded as the British Citizen Kane, made all the more remarkable as it was made in colour during the war, was planned for the first royal command performance, and Churchill wanted to ban it, because of it's sympathetic portrayal of a german during WW2

Most of the films of Powell and Pressberger were forgotten till Sorcese restored them (his editor Thelma Schoomaker, married Powell)

Check out "one of our aircraft" is missing a very hum drum tale of british flight gone down in enemy Holland, ho hum propaganda film elevated by some deft directing (and some quality editing by a young David Lean)

Black Narcissus, and The Red shoes are amazing films, and a matter of life and death is one of my all time favourites. Theres currently only available boxed set with many of their best films, including the gorgeous thief of bagdad, it's only available in HMV and is expensive but well worth it.

maquiladora

mycroft wrote:

A matter of life and death is generally regarded as the British Citizen Kane, made all the more remarkable as it was made in colour during the war, was planned for the first royal command performance, and Churchill wanted to ban it, because of it's sympathetic portrayal of a german during WW2

Most of the films of Powell and Pressberger were forgotten till Sorcese restored them (his editor Thelma Schoomaker, married Powell)

Check out one of our aircraft is missing a v boring tale of british flight gone down in enemy Holland, ho hum propaganda film elevated by some deft directing (and some quality editing by a young David Lean)

Black Narcissus, and The Red shoes are amazing films, and a matter of life and death is one of my all time favourites. Theres currently only available boxed set with many of their best films, including the gorgeous thief of bagdad, it's only available in HMV and is expensive but well worth it.

Theres a re release of all their movies

Black Narcissus, I've seen that, and was very impressed by it too.

A Matter of Life and Death, I still haven't seen, but from what I've read/heard - I'd love to see it.

maquiladora

Was just looking around online and saw this....

Powell & Pressburger: The Collection 9 dvd Box Set (Hmv Exclusive)

http://www1.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=285;5;-1;-1&sku=389105

I believe this is the boxset that was mentioned? It certainly looks impressive! Theres also a Carlton 3-disc set I've seen on Amazon.

mycroft

maquiladora wrote:

Was just looking around online and saw this....

Powell & Pressburger: The Collection 9 dvd Box Set (Hmv Exclusive)

http://www1.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=285;5;-1;-1&sku=389105

I believe this is the boxset that was mentioned? It certainly looks impressive! Theres also a Carlton 3-disc set I've seen on Amazon.

It's forty sterling, for a nine films, do the maths. It's a bargain, and then check out the xtras. It includes a previously unreleased on dvd film. It's a shame it doesn't have Black Narcissus, but the first three films are worth the price of admission alone. Me thinks I'm wandering into HMV this week.

Sod it with tube fare factor in I just got it online. Now I need a quite sunday afternoon and the life and death of Colonel Blimp, just for the embassy sequence.

lodgepole

According to the HMV website...

The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp - Special Features
Profile Documentary (25 Minutes)
Stills Gallery
Biography
Running Time 103 Minutes

That's not the version i've seen. The Criterion Edition over here is closer to two and a half hours and doesn't have a linear time line. Which did BBC2 screen?

According to imdb...

"The original version (the one restored to Criterion Collection DVD and laserdisc) runs 163 minutes. When Winston Churchill expressed his vehement dislike for the film, the British distributor, Rank Films, cut it to 140 minutes. The film was chopped to pieces when it was imported to the United States in 1945, running around 120 minutes (in which the film's vital flashback structure is eliminated and the story is told from beginning to end). The film was further cut to 90 minutes and ran on public television often in the 1970's (in the Criterion commentary, Martin Scorsese comments that this is the version he saw late night when working on New York, New York (1977)). For years, it was thought that the only existing version was this 90-minute version. In 1983, with the cooperation of the Archers, the epic film was restored to the full 163-minute length, much to the delight of Emeric Pressburger (whose favorite film this was). The film was reconstructed to the original flashback structure and many scenes taking place during World War I were restored, including the much-discussed black soldier."

BlitzKrieg

in which the film's vital flashback structure is eliminated and the story is told from beginning to end)

I have the version with the flashback structure so i'm happy. if that hmv version has it chopped to bits...then i'll avoid picking it up on dvd (have it on vhs)


a matter of life and death was short anyway so that looks untouched and red shoes was just under 3 hours so thats untouched aswell (i think)

you dont have a link to the citereon collection (i have region free dvd)

mycroft

Lodgepole wrote:

According to the HMV website...

The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp - Special Features
Profile Documentary (25 Minutes)
Stills Gallery
Biography
Running Time 103 Minutes

That's not the version i've seen. The Criterion Edition over here is closer to two and a half hours and doesn't have a linear time line. Which did BBC2 screen?

According to imdb...

"The original version (the one restored to Criterion Collection DVD and laserdisc) runs 163 minutes. When Winston Churchill expressed his vehement dislike for the film, the British distributor, Rank Films, cut it to 140 minutes. The film was chopped to pieces when it was imported to the United States in 1945, running around 120 minutes (in which the film's vital flashback structure is eliminated and the story is told from beginning to end). The film was further cut to 90 minutes and ran on public television often in the 1970's (in the Criterion commentary, Martin Scorsese comments that this is the version he saw late night when working on New York, New York (1977)). For years, it was thought that the only existing version was this 90-minute version. In 1983, with the cooperation of the Archers, the epic film was restored to the full 163-minute length, much to the delight of Emeric Pressburger (whose favorite film this was). The film was reconstructed to the original flashback structure and many scenes taking place during World War I were restored, including the much-discussed black soldier."

Theres a couple of inconsistency in the introduction to the script of thief of bagdad Scorcese said he saw the original during the editing of Raging Bull (cut in Thelma Schoonmaker's apartment). The story on the IMDB.com seems to suggest that Scorese came across it on tv, and not infact from Pressberger who used to cook Scorese dinner during the editing of Raging bull, and showed him some of his old films.

The version of Life and Death I saw on telly ten years ago was the version with the black soldier, and flashback structure. Considering the entirity of the film is told in flashback, from the leap into the pool to the return to the present it's unlikely I've ever seen the the 120 or 90 minutes. I'd be curious, I was assuming the current version, restorted with pressberger's supervision was the definitive it seems unlikely theres a 103 minute version in existance which hold the narrative structure but is cut down as well.

I could be wrong, I confused whom Schoonmaker was married to. But the version I remember seeing was structured and at the same length you mentioned. It'd be annoying to get the non definitive version, of what is basically the finest british film of all time. I've seen three copies of the film, on tv, on VHS, from just about the most anal rententive film buff I know, and a print, and they've all been the same version of the film so I'm confident I've seen the restorted cut.

*Esp just because I shelled out forty ****ing quid for it. It should be arriving before the end of the week, and I am working nights, so when I come in one morning I'll take a scan through it. I'll let ya'll know.

maquiladora

The version shown on the BBC wasnt 103 mins, it was the full restored version, well over 2 hours.

lodgepole

Criterion DVD

I really like Criterion discs when I can afford to buy them. I haven't yet bought this one, but it's well worth the money. The commentary by Powell with Martin Scorsese is excellent and the packaging and booklet (as always) is superb.

maquiladora

Lodgepole wrote:

Criterion DVD

I really like Criterion discs when I can afford to buy them. I haven't yet bought this one, but it's well worth the money. The commentary by Powell with Martin Scorsese is excellent and the packaging and booklet (as always) is superb.

I adore Criterion, but I think I only ever once found a Criterion dvd in a store - buying online is great, but I still love to browse rows and find a gem, handle it and purchase it there and then

By the way, looks like Criterion are re-releasing(?) The Wages Of Fear . That really is one to check out if you haven't.

....

Oh, and I just noticed this in the coming soon section too!

mycroft

Lodgepole wrote:

Criterion DVD

I really like Criterion discs when I can afford to buy them. I haven't yet bought this one, but it's well worth the money. The commentary by Powell with Martin Scorsese is excellent and the packaging and booklet (as always) is superb.

Expensive though! Can you fwd a link to the Citerionco rental service. The release was transfered using a Spirit which is a state of the art incredibly advanced telecine system, the level of detail criterionco go into on the transfer process is impressive.

lodgepole

Yeah, i've gotten used to every DVD store having a Criterion section here in Toronto. I've picked up a fair few while i've been here. Some are less value than others... All of them have astonishing transfers though. I'll keep on buying them once I get back to Ireland.

mycroft wrote:

Expensive though! Can you fwd a link to the Citerionco rental service. The release was transfered using a Spirit which is a state of the art incredibly advanced telecine system, the level of detail criterionco go into on the transfer process is impressive.

I don't think there is a rental service... I got mine from the Toronto Public Library. Best library service i've ever seen... They have an online database and you can select up to 50 items which they order for you, and then ring you once they arrive. I just did a search for "criterion", hit select all, and waited for them to arrive.

maquiladora

Lodgepole wrote:

Yeah, i've gotten used to every DVD store having a Criterion section here in Toronto. I've picked up a fair few while i've been here. Some are less value than others... All of them have astonishing transfers though. I'll keep on buying them once I get back to Ireland.


I don't think there is a rental service... I got mine from the Toronto Public Library. Best library service i've ever seen... They have an online database and you can select up to 50 items which they order for you, and then ring you once they arrive. I just did a search for "criterion", hit select all, and waited for them to arrive.

That sounds like one hell of a great library service!
I'm trying to think of the Criterion DVDs I've seen here for sale in Ireland in highstreet stores....The Third Man and M.
Think thats about it.

Anyone know of any good stores that stock a few titles? Wonder if HMV in Grafton St would be good.

lodgepole

Interestingly a lot of DVDs at home that don't carry the criterion banner are actually criterion discs... Chasing Amy, The Life Aquatic and Withnail & I are three that come to mind.

This is quite off topic...

mike65

Just a heads up for next Monday Oct 3rd, BBC4 are screening I know Where I'm Going! at about 11 pm.

Er edit that it starts at 10.15 pm.

Mike.

mycroft

mike65 wrote:

Just a heads up for next Monday Oct 3rd, BBC4 are screening I know Where I'm Going! at about 11 pm.

Mike.

Just a heads heads up, my boxed set arrived today, just pop'd in my dvd of life and death straight away. Annoyingly it's 4:3 but the good news it runs to a healthy 2 and half hours, and not the 103 advertised on the HMV website.

I'd rather watch all of it in 4:3 then a truncated version in 16:9.

And I know where I'm going is in there to.

It's saturday night, I'm at home thrilled about a collection of old movies I got. Damn when did I get old*

*I have work in the morning so there's mitigating circumstances.

Flicking through the chapters and seeing the scene with Kretschmer in the police station as a refugee got my pulse racing once again. The fact that theres four films on this set that I've never seen, is just thrilling.

[edit]
just watched the opening, I cannot express how daring and complex the opening credit sequence is, in 1943 1944 technicolour cameras were as rare as hens teeth, and huge, I mean massive, three lens spliting the colour into R-G-B the zoom into the bike couriers engines, and tracking shots, these were like fight club in the day. It's as daring and revolutionary period film, as citizen kane
[/edit]

maquiladora

mycroft wrote:

Just a heads heads up, my boxed set arrived today, just pop'd in my dvd of life and death straight away. Annoyingly it's 4:3 but the good news it runs to a healthy 2 and half hours, and not the 103 advertised on the HMV website.

I'd rather watch all of it in 4:3 then a truncated version in 16:9.

And I know where I'm going is in there to.

It's saturday night, I'm at home thrilled about a collection of old movies I got. Damn when did I get old*

*I have work in the morning so there's mitigating circumstances.

Flicking through the chapters and seeing the scene with Kretschmer in the police station as a refugee got my pulse racing once again. The fact that theres four films on this set that I've never seen, is just thrilling.

[edit]
just watched the opening, I cannot express how daring and complex the opening credit sequence is, in 1943 1944 technicolour cameras were as rare as hens teeth, and huge, I mean massive, three lens spliting the colour into R-G-B the zoom into the bike couriers engines, and tracking shots, these were like fight club in the day. It's as daring and revolutionary period film, as citizen kane
[/edit]

Yes, the camerawork in the opening sequence together with the music is stunning....

(Pssst, Kill Bill volume 1 scene : O-Ren with her motorcycle escort going to the House of Blue Leaves w/ The Green Hornet theme music) :cool: Similar...