The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is a 1943 British romantic-war film written, produced and directed by the British film-making team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It stars Roger Livesey, Deborah Kerr and Anton Walbrook. The title derives from the satirical Colonel Blimp comic strip by David Low, but the story is original. Although the film is strongly pro-British, it is a satire on the British Army, especially its leadership. It suggests that Britain faced the option of following traditional notions of honourable warfare or to "fight dirty" in the face of such an evil enemy as Nazi Germany.
Plot
Major-General Clive Wynne-Candy is a senior commander in the British Home Guard during World War II. Before a training exercise, he is "captured" in a Victorian Turkish bath by British Army troops led by Lieutenant "Spud" Wilson, who has struck pre-emptively. He ignores Clive's outraged protests that "War starts at midnight!" They scuffle and fall into a bathing pool. An extended flashback ensues.