Another one from Powell and Pressburger - (who I think we last saw in the Red Shoes or Black Narcissus - I forget which) - and the dude's name isn't Colonel Blimp so I don't know really what the title means other than that guy was in a comic strip, I guess
It's a bit of a romance/love story about a military officer who goes all the way up to WWII - somewhat satirical but at the time, during WWII when it came out, very telling. Churchill didn't want it made, it was cut down for time when sent to the states and was generally an inferior print. They tried to get Olivier to do it but the war department refused - in fact the British War Dept. refused to help at all which the joke is several uniforms were still "found" for use
the 2011 restoration restored 3 sets of negatives (I guess technicolor is for printing color on 3 b/w prints and then blending them) - and the restoration is insanely good and was overseen by Powell's editor and Martin Scorsese.
Honestly, when I saw the length I was a bit irritated but this is one of the films that flies by - it is beautifully shot, and goes on a time travelling journey of a man who serves in the Boer war, WWI, and is helping out in WWII. It reminder me a bit of the Grand Illusion where you realize that in WWI, the officer corps of both sides were a lot more kind to each other whereas they try to make the point that to lose by not using the tactics the Nazis are using is a total loss - He falls in love, loses the girl, finds a near doppleganger and marries her - and when she dies, takes a driver that looks like his lost love and wife - and all three are played by Deborah Kerr at only 21 years old.
It's believed by many to be one of the finest British films out there and in the sense that it captures the British spirit while still being entertaining, quite a show - the aging makeup they used was pretty good too for the lead - not so much for his friend but hey life goes on - :)
Anyways glad i got it knocked out in one sitting
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