Wow, buying an 11 DVD box-set blind is pretty impressive. I would start with either The Red Shoes and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp if you want to go purely by their most loved films.
I agree, though any order is OK. Just make sure to see them all.
I blind bought a Powell/Pressburger boxset too ;)
The one I watched first was ‘49th Parallel’ which was a fine way to start, but I’m sure it doesn’t matter. If you watch Colonel Blimp, you might want to know the background information that ‘Colonel Blimp’ was a war time political cartoon lampooning the ‘old school’ army veterans from the first world war. “Jolly good show”, and all that. Maybe you already know that, but I didn’t, till my grandad told me about it.
That’s the reason why Churchill was opposed to the film’s making. But as you can see what P & P were up to wasn’t a political film at all but a rousing tribute to the British national character in wartime.
I also expect that the big patriotic speech was given not to a British character but the great Anton Walbrook also upset Churchill.
I’ve seen about five of their films, all very good, but the one that stands out above all the others for me is Black Narcissus.
Oh yes it’s simply amazing. I spoke to Powell about it a number of years back and asked him about what historical research was involved on his trip to the Hymalayas. He said “Oh we neevr went there. We made it all up!”
I keep waiting to see BLACK NARCISSUS, because I want my first experience of it to be on a big (not TV) screen. I rented the Criterion DVD from Netflix, and it turned out to be defective which I took as being something of a sign.
Here’s a taste:
The greatest filmmakers ever. I’d start with AMoLaD.
I’d start in year made order and work forward….I’m a big fan of “They’re A Weird Mob”.
I got the 9 dvd version of the same collection for Christmas, and having seen some of them before I began with with ones I hadn’t seen – 49th Parallel. A great call to arms to the Americans, and a rather sympathetic portrayal of the Germans, for which it received a fare amount of criticism.
Battle of the River Plate was next, another of P & P’s movie that received negative reaction for it’s sympathetic portrayal of the Germans, thanks largely to the presence of Peter Finch as the German admiral.
I then watched the other two I had never seen, I Know Where I’m Going, a brilliant critique on how the British aristocracy wished to distance itself from the war, and a celebration of the lives and courage of the of British subjects from the far flung parts of the British Isles.
Next came A Cantebury Tale. Through the use of a McGuffin – the mysterious Glue Man, P & P take us through a journey celebrating the traditions and passtimes of rural England and show us exactly what it was both British and Americans were fighting for. Both films are superb explorations of the British values and the British way of life that millions were fighting for at the time. And P & P don’t shy away from the personal loss many people had endured during the war.
After that it had to be A Matter of Life and Death. The best British war film of all time. Made the year after the war it is a kindly reminder of the many young men that had died for their country. It is also a profound meditation on the meaning of life and death for a generation of people still scarred by the memories of war.
Next came The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. For me this is the quintessential P & P movie. Superb performances from Livesey, Walbrooke and Kerr.
I then watched The Red Shoes which is possibly the best looking P&P with its central ballet section. Jack Cardiff’s cinematography is quite beautiful, and Anton Walbrooke’s turn as conceited impressario is far removed from the previous roles he had played for P & P.
I must admit to finding I’ll Met By Moonlight quite banal.Terribly pedestrian in its pacing, a lot of wooden acting, and dull cinematography.
Still have to watch They’re a Wierd Mob, P & Ps return to the big screen after a three year hiatus, but did get a copy of The Black Narcissus – seriously sexist and racist, a story of undersexed nuns going bonkers. Brilliant in a very 1946 kind of way.
But watch them in any order and you’re bound to see some of the finest British films ever made.
Thanks for all of your opinions, I can’t wait for my package to arrive (bought 30+ movies in total) :)
God I love this filmmaker duo, and that box set sounds to die for (where did you get it? Is it region 1?). I own many of those movies that I have purchased on my own, and even when I don’t particularly like certain Archer’s movies (not too fond of “I Know Where I’m Going” myself) I always think they’re worth the watch.
What’s missing from that boxset is Peeping Tom. I mean, what’s missing from that boxset is quite a few titles, but the most important one is Peeping Tom. Then again, that was pretty much Powell minus Pressburger, so I can see the reason for the omission, but frankly as far as Powell goes Peeping Tom is essential viewing. Strike that. As far as cinema goes Peeping Tom is essential viewing. You’ll never consider Psycho as the best British horror movie of 1960 again.
—PolarisDiB
For me, a Matter of Life and Death was one of the most moving cinematic experiences of my life. I saw it as a teenager, and then again about 30 years later. A stunning film.
I have seen a few other P&P films… Colonel Blimp is great, although for me it did not have the magic of A Matter of Life and Death. Blimp seemed to go on a bit too long.
Black Narcissus is a beauty. The cinematography is wonderful. Get the UK Bluray if you can.
I’ve also seen Peeing Tom – a very different beast. It’s been a while so I should see it again.
That’s it – I have a lot of other P&P films to catch up on.
By the way, I haven’t seen the Red Shoes – I’m waiting for a Bluray, either the UK or one from Criterion. Did you know that Wayne Shorter, the jazz saxophonist who was one of the founders of the fusion band “Weather Report”, was quoted in the liner notes to their 1975 album “Tale Spinnin” as saying that he had seen The Red Shoes something like 28 times.
I like the fact Wayne Shorter watched the red shoes 28 times. That makes alot of sense
“I’ve also seen Peeing Tom”
sounds a bit risqué for me
I just checked the original LP liner notes, and it was indeed 28 times. That was as of 1975. I imagine he’s seen it many more times since then.
Great! Wayne is GOD.
Hey guys. Thanks for the anwers so far, now I’m looking much more forward to receiving my order :) And just to those who metioned Peeping Tom I have also seen it, which makes it the only Powell picture I have seen yet. And I agree, I “prefer” Peeping Tom to Psycho it is much more disturbing.
Definitely watch them chronologically.
Everything they made from Blimp to The Red Shoes (or maybe even Gone to Earth) is a masterpiece. Before and after that it’s a bit more hit and miss.
>>You’ll never consider Psycho as the best British horror movie of 1960 again.<<
Some of us would never have considered a Hollywood production the best British horror film of 1960. ;-)
I know I’d seen The Archers logo on sveral films on TV (THE SMALL BACK ROOM was one) before I started making the connection of all these great films coming from the same team before I went to see THE RED SHOES at a college screening. At the time I didn’t know much about the film, so when I saw that logo at the beginning I was pleasantly surprised. Some years passed & while I was visiting a friend in NYC BLACK NARCISSUS was on a PBS station. Thanks to a brain fart I confused it with BLACK ORPHEUS and said, “I’ve always wanted to see that.” (This was in the very early days of home videotape.) Obviously I was soon aware of my error, but this was another P&P film I went into “blind” & I was blown away by it (so was my friend).
Start with BLACK NARCISSUS.
Yes, start with Black Narcissus. You are Kerr & Co. going into unknown territory. Then follow up with the amazing A Canterbury Tale, which extends your foray into an increasingly familiar – but still mysterious – terrain. The rest can be dipped into at random. Just remember to save the last dance for Moira Shearer and her shoes.
“I’ve also seen Peeing Tom”
I have it in a box set with “Wee Wee Willie Winkie” and “The Whiz.”
I’d start with The red shoes. It is one of the most breathtaking and inspiring movies I’ve ever seen.
I guess PEEPING TOM was not a Pressburger collaboration?
I love all the color mise-en-scene stuff going on in these films….
My favorite is THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP, I agree their mise-en-scene shine by itself. THE RED SHOES is beautiful and it is their most expressionist and artistic glorious, but I love the humanism in the other film.
Geden1337
Hi there.
I Just ordered some movies online including the Michael Powell & Emerich Pressburger Collection box. I have read some good things about some of their movies, but I can’t really begin to figure out in which order I should see them? Any advice will be appreciated. The box includes:
1. A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
2. The Red Shoes (1948)
3. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
4. A Canterbury Tale (1944)
5. “I Know Where I’m Going” (1945)
6. 49th Parallel (1941)
7. Battle of the River Plate (1956)
8. I’ll Met by Moonlight (1957)
9. They’re a Weird Mob (1966)
10. The Tales of Hoffman (1951)
11. Black Narcissus (1946)