The Life and Dearth of Colonel Blimp

( aka 'Colonel Blimp' or "The Adventures of Colonel Blimp")

U.K. 1943

"It's almost impossible to define this 1943 masterpiece by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It was ostensibly based on a cartoon series that satirized the British military class, yet its attitude toward the main character is one of affection, respect, and sometimes awe; it was intended as a propaganda film, yet Churchill wanted to suppress it; it has the romantic sweep of a grand love story, yet none of the romantic relationships it presents is truly fulfilled, and the film's most lasting bond is one between the British colonel (Roger Livesey) and his Prussian counterpart (Anton Walbrook)."

Dave Kehr

Excerpt from his review HERE at the Chicago Reader

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Criterion Region 0 DVD

Theatrical Release: June 10th, 1943 UK (Premiere)

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DVD Comparison:

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Carlton - Region 2 - PAL

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	The Criterion Collection Spine #173 Region 0 - NTSC	Carlton Visual Entertainment Region 2 - PAL
(click titles for DVDBeaver reviews) Criterion (without any extras) also available in The Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films - a 50-disc celebration of international films collected under the auspices of the groundbreaking theatrical distributor. It contains Alexander Nevsky (1938), Ashes And Diamonds (1958), L'avventura (1960), Ballad Of A Soldier (1959), Beauty And The Beast (1946), Black Orpheus (1959), Brief Encounter (1945), The Fallen Idol (1948), Fires On The Plain (1959), Fists In The Pocket (1965), Floating Weeds (1959), Forbidden Games (1952), The 400 Blows (1959), Grand Illusion (1937), Häxan (1922), Ikiru (1952), The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952), Ivan The Terrible, Part II (1958), Le Jour Se Lève (1939), Jules And Jim (1962), Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949), Knife In The Water (1962), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), Loves Of A Blonde (1965), M (1931), M. Hulot's Holiday (1953), Miss Julie (1951), Pandora's Box (1929), Pépé Le Moko (1937), Il Posto (1961), Pygmalion (1938), Rashomon (1950), Richard III (1955), The Rules Of The Game (1939), Seven Samurai (1954), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Spirit Of The Beehive (1973), La Strada (1954), Summertime (1955), The Third Man (1949), The 39 Steps (1935), Ugetsu (1953), Umberto D. (1952), The Virgin Spring (1960), Viridiana (1961), The Wages Of Fear (1953), The White Sheik (1952), Wild Strawberries (1957), Three Documentaries By Saul J. Turell plus the hardcover, full color 240-page book.
Runtime	2:43:25	2:36:35(4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.38 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.90 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Criterion
Bitrate: Carlton
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, and none	English (Captions), and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Collection Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • New high-definition digital transfer of the original full-length version of the film, restored by British Film Institute • Audio commentary featuring director Michael Powell with Martin Scorsese • Carlton International's 24-minute video profile • A collection of rare behind-the-scenes and production stills from the collection of Michael Powell • A collection of David Low's original Colonel Blimp cartoons DVD Release Date: October 22, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 31	Release Information: Studio: Carlton Visual Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Documentary A Profile of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, including interviews with Oscar-winning cinematographer Jack Cardiff, Powell and Pressburger biographer Ian Christie and fan of the film Stephen Fry (23:48 min) • Biographies • Stills gallery DVD Release Date: May 13th, 2002 Transparent Keep Case Chapters 19

Comments:

This comparison was previously posted on DVDBeaver from Markus of Chiaroscuro HERE. I had supplied him with the Criterion screen captures. I have recently purchased this DVD (in the Powell/Pressburger Boxset) so am doing a new comparison since I have had the opportunity of seeing both versions on one system. Using the "First Frame" technique I am confident that the frames are matched correctly.

Both versions have strengths in certain areas. Although the sharpness is very similar - it is also quite different. The Carlton looks saturated next to the Criterion and its softer palette. I think it actually is saturated to a small degree but beside the Criterion it looks worse. I think the Criterion is slightly sharper in most of the film. The Criterion has a greenish haze to some of its image as well as skin tones appearing very red. Again, as with The Red Shoes, I won't comment on my perception of the directorial intent of the film. It may very well have been meant to look exactly as Criterion is showing... or as the Carlton is showing. I think we could spend hours speculating on which is "more right", but it comes down to personal preference. To me, the skin tones of the Carlton look much more realistic. The colors certainly appear more vibrant in the Carlton, but others may prefer the softness of the Criterion. The Carlton DVD does show more damage than the Criterion - but it is not extensive. The Carlton seems to look better the more the film progresses. The contrast is so deep in the Carlton, I began to look for Edge Enhancement - but I found none to my naked eye. The Criterion is more evenly brighter (look at outdoor scenes) and the Carlton black levels are much deeper. The Criterion is cropped on both sides and the top - the Carlton has some missing information on the bottom. Criterion shows some film grain.

For these reasons is quite difficult to state that one is the definitive image - winning out over the other. Your vision can tend to adjust to image color characteristic very quickly and as long as the pattern is consistent - it won't affect your enjoyment of this fine film. Both release exhibit consistency in their image color. So the final conclusion is that they are both acceptable to DVDBeaver. Personally I almost always lean towards the sharpest version - in this case the Criterion - but the Carlton is strong in many other areas (black levels, cropping, realistic color etc. ) that I am going to sit on the fence.

The Extras are good on both discs, but the Criterion nudges ahead with its Commentary featuring Powell and Scorsese.

One additional point - the Carlton menus are wonderfully animated! Both releases get top marks!

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Carlton - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures