Don't Know...THE ARCHERS?

You really should know who THE ARCHERS are! The Archers were a production company. "The Archers" was the company name used by Michael Powell (1905-1990), born Michael Latham Powell, and Emeric Pressburger (1902-1988), born Imre József Emmerich Pressburger, for a series of films in the 1940s and 1950s. Pressburger was a Hungarian refugee who settled in Britain before World War II. Powell was a lifelong Englishman. Together they made some of the best films to come out of England during the era.


A fine place to start is by viewing: The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943) [aka: The Adventures of Colonel Blimp (USA) or Colonel Blimp (USA)]. Cartoonist David Low created the character of Colonel Blimp to represent the stereotypical blustery old guard Englishman. He described Blimp as "a symbol of stupidity, and stupid people are quite nice." Powell and Pressburger used the name for their movie, but the character's name in the film is Clive Candy. The film follows Candy's army career for 40 years, his friendship with a German officer and the three women in his life. He is a man of dignity and honor who cannot come to grips with the concept of total war. Roger Livesey is Candy, Anton Walbrook is his friend, and Deborah Kerr is outstanding as the three women who mean so much to Candy. A truly beautiful film. Winston Churchill hated the film and tried to have it banned. Fortunately that was one battle he lost.

Watch this and then see these other four films.


A Matter Of Life And Death (1946) A flyer (David Niven) miraculously survives a fall from his bomber without a parachute, and finds himself having to argue for his life before a heavenly tribunal. This came out the same year as It's a Wonderful Life and the similarity of themes is not surprising. World War II had just ended and there was much soul searching going on throughout the world. This is a lovely film and is a must for any collection. On its release in America, the title was changed to Stairway To Heaven.
Black Narcissus (1947) A group of nuns attempt to establish a religious community in a small Himalayan kingdom. They are given a palace once built for a ruler's wife, sited atop a mountain. The ever-present wind creates a very strange atmosphere that leads to madness and tragedy. Deborah Kerr is outstanding as Sister Superior Clodagh. Others in the cast include Sabu, Jean Simmons, David Farrar and Kathleen Byron.
The Battle Of The River Plate (1956) This was the final film produced by The Archers. It tells the story of the oursuit and sinking of the German battleship Graff Spee during World War II.
The Red Shoes (1948) Considered the best film dealing with the world of ballet, I must admit it always has left me cold. But many others love it, so I will offer it here. The cast includes Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook and Marius Goring, all fine performers. If you are interested in what happens in the world of dance, this film is for you.


*Contributed by: "Eric Jamborsky" Date: Mon, Jul 24 2006 / 08:14:34 PST

Academy Awards®
© A.M.P.A.S.®
MICHAEL POWELL
1942 Nominated for Best Picture of the Year: 49TH PARALLEL — Producer
1942 Nominated for Best Achievement in Writing - Original Screenplay: ONE OF OUR AIRCRAFT IS MISSING
1948 Nominated for Best Picture of the Year: THE RED SHOES — Producer
EMERIC PRESSBURGER
1942 Won Best Achievement in Writing - Original Story: 49TH PARALLEL
1942 Nominated for Best Achievement in Writing - Original Screenplay : ONE OF OUR AIRCRAFT IS MISSING
1942 Nominated for Best Achievement in Writing - Screenplay: 49TH PARALLEL
1948 Nominated for Best Picture of the Year: THE RED SHOES — Producer
1948 Nominated for Best Achievement in Writing - Motion Picture Story: THE RED SHOES