Classic Film Reviews

[Kent]

If anyone has watched any pre-1980 movies please post up a review...

[Kent]

Watched Michael Powell’s classic comedy of manners movie, ‘The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp’ (1943).
This documents the rise of the idealist and also romantic Major General Clive Wynne-Candy VC in the British Army from the Boer War, via World War I through to his time in the Home Guard in World War II and his friendship with his German counterpart Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorf.
Staring Powell regulars Roger Livesey, Anton Walbrook and Deborah Kerr (in multiple roles) the film began life as a Daily Express British cartoon series by David Low and plays out as a compelling character study; much aided by Livesy who plays Candy through youth, middle age and his senior years with great skill and bravura.
Using flashbacks, flash-forwards and impressive Technicolor cinematography by Georges Perinal and Jack Cardiff this is a terrific film about war and soldiers that mourns the passing of a time and sense of decency yet not in a jingoistic way nor swayed to overt propaganda. Powell said, "It's a 100 per cent British film but it's photographed by a Frenchman, it's written by a Hungarian, the musical score is by a German Jew, the director was English and the man who did the costumes was a Czech!”
The movie caught the attention of Winston Churchill who feared it may harm public morale (it was filmed in wartime featuring a sympathetic German character); it was originally banned, then cut, only being fully restored in 1983.
Powell’s story of friendship and honour (made in partnership with his writer/producer partner Emeric Pressburger) is now quite rightly regarded as honest and subversive; one of the finest British films ever.

[EH16]

If anyone has watched any pre-1980 movies please post up a review...

Having been born in the 1950's I've watched numerous pre 1980 movies. Why would I not have gone to the cinema until I was in my 20's?

[Kent]

Congratulations! Then post up a review if you wish.

If anyone has watched any pre-1980 movies please post up a review...

Having been born in the 1950's I've watched numerous pre 1980 movies. Why would I not have gone to the cinema until I was in my 20's?

[EastDerehamO]

Ok I’ll go for it, and a good review of ‘The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp’ Kent, which I’ve only ever seen once. But which movie of many to review?!

One of my favourite movies of all time is Kind Hearts & Coronets (1949, b/w), a black comedy from Ealing Studios which invariably features in any list of perceived top British movies, and as a testament to the scope of the English language. It stars Dennis Price (never better in my view) as Louis Mazzini, a meagre draper’s assistant, who aims to serially murder his way up the hierarchy of the D’Ascoyne family with the ultimate aim of becoming Duke, as revenge for his mother being disowned by the family.

Alec Guinness is wonderful in multiple roles as all the members of the family who stand between Mazzini and the Dukedom, and Valerie Hobson and Joan Greenwood are also superb as contrasting love interest characters. Arthur Lowe can be spotted in a tiny early role near the end of the film.

[StillSpike]

Ok I’ll go for it, and a good review of ‘The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp’ Kent, which I’ve only ever seen once. But which movie of many to review?!

One of my favourite movies of all time is Kind Hearts & Coronets (1949, b/w), a black comedy from Ealing Studios which invariably features in any list of perceived top British movies, and as a testament to the scope of the English language. It stars Dennis Price (never better in my view) as Louis Mazzini, a meagre draper’s assistant, who aims to serially murder his way up the hierarchy of the D’Ascoyne family with the ultimate aim of becoming Duke, as revenge for his mother being disowned by the family.

Alec Guinness is wonderful in multiple roles as all the members of the family who stand between Mazzini and the Dukedom, and Valerie Hobson and Joan Greenwood are also superb as contrasting love interest characters. Arthur Lowe can be spotted in a tiny early role near the end of the film.

Joan Greenwood is fantastic as the lovely Sibella

I have a feeling that Kind Hearts and Coronets will be in one or more contests in Bandoff Movies - "Comedies" "Classic British" etc

[Kent]

Thank you EastDerehamO

Loved your take on 'Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) Especially like Guinness in his eight different roles and feel that Dennis Price was an always underrated actor...

Nick

Ok I’ll go for it, and a good review of ‘The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp’ Kent, which I’ve only ever seen once. But which movie of many to review?!

One of my favourite movies of all time is Kind Hearts & Coronets (1949, b/w), a black comedy from Ealing Studios which invariably features in any list of perceived top British movies, and as a testament to the scope of the English language. It stars Dennis Price (never better in my view) as Louis Mazzini, a meagre draper’s assistant, who aims to serially murder his way up the hierarchy of the D’Ascoyne family with the ultimate aim of becoming Duke, as revenge for his mother being disowned by the family.

Alec Guinness is wonderful in multiple roles as all the members of the family who stand between Mazzini and the Dukedom, and Valerie Hobson and Joan Greenwood are also superb as contrasting love interest characters. Arthur Lowe can be spotted in a tiny early role near the end of the film.