Third Man

It's a guess but it may of been because he realised he was part of something special and involved with extraordinary film makers. All three are marvellous films perhaps Livesey knew they were special before he saw the finished article and maybe in other films he was part of, he did not have the motivation because he knew he was involved in something a of mediocre standard when compared to working with 'The Archers'. I think with any type of work if you have an employer who you are glad to work for, invariably this will get a better response from the employee.

With Blimp and AMOLAD I think it would of been quite easy to recognise that you where part of something special but with IKWIG it might not of been so easy at the time of making, more trust would have to be invested in the film makers, maybe.

Perhaps P&P had very positive and influential ways over their actors and were able to extract great performances based on what influence they were exacting on the stars of their films. I'd also say the same thing about Niven, 'The Archers' where among only the a few film makers to get the full potential out him in AMOLAD.

Simon

penfold

Well, in a sense it is only in IKWIG that he was the male lead...in AMOLAD Niven was the male lead, and in the Blimp credits Roger is third behind both Anton and Deborah, despite rarely being off-screen.
He is fine in The Drum, and has a showy cameo in Rembrandt....and in The League....but, like Sabu, David Farrar, Esmond Knight and quite a few other actors and actresses, his best work was indeed with The Archers.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Keechelus

I am a very new member here, and the first thread I read was this one.

I have enjoyed our Criterion BLIMP for several years (do DVDs wear out? I hope not) and I have read books, articles and Internet commentaries on P&P and BLIMP.

Never have I read a more well-informed and passionate appreciation of the movie than right here. You guys made me laugh, cry and shout with joy as I followed the discussion. Bravo.

A little PS: Many folks refer to Walbrook's two inspiring speeches about the failure of German society and the horror of Nazi-ism, and the need to fight for survival.

It is worth remembering his earlier boast on the 1919 POW repatriation train, after dinner with Candy and friends. "They are children ... they think enemies can be friends ... one man actually said we must be trading partners! ... they are weak. This is the raft that will float us back to power."

It is a chilling scene that makes Walbrook even more believable as an older man betrayed by his country twenty years later.

I also admire the tear-jerker conclusion, "Until the waters rise and this is a lake..." as Candy views the emergency reservoir where his bombed house once stood.

*snif* There is not a wasted minute or misplaced word in this perfect film.

penfold

Welcome to our merry band.....and that last sentence puts the film in a nutshell. Barely a line is spoken that doesn't have resonance elsewhere in the film, comes back to haunt, or point up a situation. Perfect, yes, I wouldn't change a thing.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Keechelus

Thanks for your kind welcome. I'll seek other P&P discussions here.

This is a wonderful forum.

Steve Crook

A hearty welcome from me to.

There have been some good discussions about P&P films here and there are some more at the PaPAS Email List with lots of backup information on the Powell and Pressburger Appreciation Society web site

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

eric7885

I have never seen this film before,but the other night,I think it was Turner Classics,it was shown on the telly,in its colourized version. I only watch a few minutes of it,it looked as it had been remastered.

penfold

It's not colouriized, Ron, that's state-of-the-art 1940's Three-strip technicolor....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Steve Crook

Although it's sometimes hard to tell on TCM (US or CA) because they have to use that NTSC (Never The Same Color) system

Ron, try and see it projected in 35mm. The colour will be a revelation.

Steve

Keechelus

Our Criterion DVD (Region 1 NTSC) is beautifully restored in most ways. The sound is very clear, crisp and free of hiss; and the video is always sharp, but ...

.. there are a very few disconcerting colour shifts. Most of the interiors are quite stable, but some of the exterior scenes have jumps in tone from magenta to yellow. Perhaps this is due to the various sources that made up the full-length restoration.

I haven't had the privilege to see the Carlton DVD, and I wonder how it appears to British viewers?

Pardon this minor quibble. BLIMP is a masterpiece that I'd happily enjoy on a 12" Romanian TV.

Steve Crook

If you can point to an exact scene where you see this magenta to yellow jump then we can check on our Carlton DVDs, videos, laserdisks and other copies

Steve

penfold

For my eyes the transfer on the Criterion DVD (taken from their Laserdisc edition I assume) is too pink throughout....while the transfer on the Carlton disc is far better. What you do get on the Criterion is the commentary.....so what's a guy to do??? Get both.
This will show you the difference...
The Life and Dearth of Colonel Blimp

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Keechelus

Thanks for the link to DVD Beaver - a site I know well, but hadn't thought of for help in this case.

I don't need an excuse to re-watch BLIMP, but the Beaver presentation has saved me the task of compiling screen shots.

Yes, why not have both? Amazon UK has the Carlton DVD for £6.48, so I'll probably add it to my next order from blighty.

penfold

Welcome to the world of Powell and Pressburger completism...it's a slippery slope. Still, I'm looking forward to my original one-sheet posters of Squadron Leader X and Luna de Miel arriving from a well known auction site as we speak....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

moonfleet

Deborah Kerr (say ..aar in french) is still dead now, may she have lots of fun wherever she is, but she can't miss it with such partners as : Mitchum, Livesey,Lancaster, Granger, Farrar...etc
P.S/TOP GOSSIP: Mickee Powell was very much in love with her, as he seems to say in -M.P, "Une Vie dans le Cinéma"....