The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

About this Broadcast

A Home Guard officer serving during the Second World War is outraged by the disrespect for tradition shown by younger soldiers. He looks back on his military adventures during the Boer War and First World War, as well as his three great loves. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's satirical drama, starring Roger Livesey, Deborah Kerr, Anton Walbrook and John Laurie

1943 HD subtitles 16x9

Historical/Period Drama Movie/Drama War

Cast & Crew

Roger Livesey (Actor) .. Clive Candy

Anton Walbrook (Actor) .. Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff

Deborah Kerr (Actor) .. Edith Hunter/Barbara Wyn/Johnny Cannon

John Laurie (Actor) .. Murdoch

James McKechnie (Actor) .. Spud Wilson

Neville Mapp (Actor) .. Stuffy Graves

Roland Culver (Actor) .. Col Betteridge

David Hutcheson (Actor) .. Hoppy

Spencer Trevor (Actor) .. Period Blimp

Felix Aylmer (Actor) .. Bishop

Ursula Jeans (Actor) .. Frau von Kaltenneck

Michael Powell (Director)

Emeric Pressburger (Director)

More Information

Did You Know..

Roger Livesey (Actor) .. Clive Candy

Anton Walbrook (Actor) .. Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff

Deborah Kerr (Actor) .. Edith Hunter/Barbara Wyn/Johnny Cannon

John Laurie (Actor) .. Murdoch

Born: March 25, 1897 in Dumfries

Best Known For: Playing Private James Frazer in Dad's Army.

Early-life: John Paton Laurie was born in Dumfries on March 25, 1897 to William and Jessie. After serving in the First World War, John trained to become an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London and landed his first stage role in 1921. Between 1922 and 1939, he played a number of Shakespearean parts at the Old Vic or Stratford-upon-Avon. During the Second World War, he served in the Home Guard.

Career: Laurie made guest appearances in a number of TV shows during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, including The Scarlet Pimpernel, Kidnapped, The Citadel, Steptoe and Son, Z Cars, Emergency Ward 10 and The Avengers. In his best known role, he played pessimistic undertaker and Home Guard soldier Private James Frazer in the hugely popular BBC sitcom Dad's Army. The show ran from 1968 until 1977 and remains popular today with modern audiences. His film credits include Henry V (1944), Treasure Island (1950), Richard III (1955), Dad's Army (1971), One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing (1975) and The Prisoner of Zenda (1979). He died from emphysema at the age of 83 on June 23, 1980. His ashes were scattered at sea.

Quote: 'We're doomed, I tell ye!'

Trivia: Laurie was one of the storytellers on BBC children's series Jackanory.