During World War II, propaganda was everywhere in the film industry. Along with blatant propaganda works like the documentary films oflegendary Western directorJohn Ford,evenclassics likeCasablancawere ingrained with anti-fascism to boost morale in the fight against the Axis Powers. While no one should feel upset about propaganda made in oppositionto the Nazis, it should come as no surprise that most movies from this time period also promoted intense nationalism.
This is what makesEmeric Pressburger and Michael Powell’sfilmThe Life and Death of Colonel Blimpsuch an enduring and powerful work of art. The film faced thethreat of censorship by British prime ministerWinston Churchillhimself due to its portrayal of the British military as well as its humanization of German citizens who opposed Nazi rule. The film follows the life of a British general and his slow decline into an ineffective bureaucrat, along with his longtime friendship with a German soldier.
Why Did Winston Churchill Want This WWII Movie Banned?
Powell and Pressburger were being bold when they madeColonel Blimp.The title itself is areference to a popular comic characterknown for representing out of touch, aristocratic British military officers. The main character, General Clive Wynne-Candy (Roger Livesly), serves as a more realistic version of that same archetype. Through the film, Candy’s entire life is explored.On a scale not unlike a modern biopic, the film shows his trajectory from an idealistic nationalist with authority issues in his 20s, to a general, disrespected by his subordinates and disillusioned by the realities of total war.
Now, if outright criticism of the British military command was not enough to upsetthe famously temperamental Churchill, the major character of Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff (Anton Walbrook) certainly helped bring his ire down on the film. Theo is Candy’s best friend, and for most of the film he is a German army officer. A character likeTheo in the movie was highly unusual for the time, as few films portrayed German citizens as anything but Nazis. However, Theo is a fully realized character. Candy meets Theo as a young man in a duel for the honor of the German and British army and while the two recover from their wounds, they become fast friends,despite the language barrier. The film uses Theo to humanize the German people in spite of their nation’s atrocities. Theo himself flees Germany during WWII, leaving behind his two sons who bought into Nazi ideology. This sympathetic, complicated character is a far cry from the portrayal of the German people in propaganda and this contradiction from the typical media of the day is what brought the film into Churchill’s sights.
Winston Churchill Wouldn’t Let Laurence Olivier Be in the WWII Movie
Throughout the film’s production, prime minister Winston Churchill sought to shut the film down. He found the film’s content as potentially devastating to morale and, considering his background as an aristocratic, former military officer, he likely took some aspects of the film as an almost personal insult. One of the first obstructions by Churchill was to deny legendary theater and film actorLaurence Olivierfrom starring as General Candy.Olivier was denied the ability to leave his post in the navy to act in the film, a move that was clearly motivated by Churchill and his Ministry of Information’s dislike of the film’s content. Olivier was allowed to leave the navyto act inHenry Va year later,making the move a clear moment of sabotage against the production. Although the Ministry of Information was involved in removing Olivier from the production, the department eventually refused to allow Churchill to outright stop the film from being released.
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In the end, Churchill had considerably hindered the film, but never used his authority to censor the film. The prime minister seemingly heldno ill will against Powell and Pressburger. He attended the film’s premiere and, according to the Daily Telegraph, “appeared to be in excellent humor.” Churchill’s attempts at censoring the film were certainly mildcompared to his enemies' suppression of art, but his actions in trying to get the film banned is still an unsettling reminder of the way government influences the art of its nation.
The Life And Death of Colonel Blimpis available to watch on Max in the U.S.
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The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
This epic tale follows the life of British soldier Clive Candy from the Boer War to World War II. Through romance, friendships, and the challenges of changing times, Candy’s career and personal life reflect the broader changes in British society.
