The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)

  • 95% of critics liked it
    (20 reviews)

  • 92% of users liked it
    (4,318 ratings)

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's much-lauded epic Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, which satirizes British traditionalism, stirred up impassioned hostilities and indignations among the Brits when released in 1943. It so infuriated Winston Churchill, in fact, that he refused to allow its… More

Unrated, 2 hr. 43 min.
Directed By
Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell
Genres
Drama, Classics
In Theaters
Jun 10, 1943 Wide
On DVD
Oct 22, 2002

Critic Reviews

  • J. Hoberman, Village Voice

    A 1943 Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger collaboration so unambiguously satirizing the military mind-set that Prime Minister Winston Churchill tried to have it banned.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    The movie looks past the fat, bald military man with the walrus moustache, and sees inside, to an idealist and a romantic. To know him is to love him.

  • Philip French, Observer [UK]

    Arguably the finest British film made during the second world war...

  • , The List

    Blimp is a film that gives us musical mischief, marvellous moustaches, poignancy and peculiarity in droves.

  • Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

    This glorious film is about the greatest mystery of all: how old people were once young, and how young people are in the process of becoming old.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Tim S


    The magic of the Powell & Pressburger directing and producing team has never been more prevalent or as affecting as it was than with their World War II character study epic The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. Heralded as one of, if not THE greatest British film ever made, its… More

  • Bathsheba M


    This film is an interesting look at young people looking at old people...what you see is a paunchy old guy with a moustache, but as the old guy says, "You don't know anything about me," and of course the movie endeavors then to tell us all about the old guy. It was a… More

  • Jonathan H


    How amazing is Anton Walbrook? He steals almost every scene he's in.

  • Ken S


    Delightfully charming and British.

  • Anthony L


    The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp isn't just my favourite Powell & Pressburger film, it has shot right to the top section of my favourite films of all time. It's amazing to think that this was actually shot during the blitz in 1943. No wonder Mr. Churchill wasn't… More

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

Cast

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