Soldiers on Screen: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Join us for a screening of the wartime satire 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'. Afterwards, a panel of experts will be exploring the film's themes and examining its impact.

The British Army has been depicted on the silver screen since the earliest years of cinema.

Join us for a screening of 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp' (1943), a highpoint of British cinema during the Second World War. Both moving and slyly satirical, it recounts the life of the foolish but loveable Colonel Blimp, from his time as a dashing young soldier in the Boer War through to his service in both World Wars. Blimp’s story offers vital and still-relevant reflections on nationhood, identity, generational conflict and much more.

Following the screening, a panel of leading historians will come together to examine the film's immediate impact and ongoing legacy. They will also explore some of the central themes that establish it as a moving evocation of British values and the passage of time.

This event is part of our Soldiers on Screen film series.

Running order

1.45pm – Doors open
2.00pm – Event begins with introduction from Museum member of staff
2.10pm – Film screening begins
4.50pm – Film screening ends
5.00pm – Panel discussion begins
5.45pm – Event ends

About the panel

Alex von Tunzelmann

Alex von Tunzelmann is a historian and screenwriter, broadcaster, and the author of books including 'Fallen Idols: Twelve Statues That Made History'.

Hannah Greig

Hannah Greig is a historian at Royal Holloway, London and an expert in 18th-century British history. She is also a consultant to film and TV, whose credits include feature films 'The Duchess' (2008) and 'The Favourite' (2019), as well as TV shows 'Poldark', 'Sanditon' and 'Bridgerton'.

Matthew Sweet

Matthew Sweet is a film historian, writer and broadcaster. He is the author of 'Inventing the Victorians' and 'The West End Front'. A familiar voice in British broadcasting, he presents 'Free Thinking' and 'Sound of Cinema' on BBC Radio 3 and 'The Philosopher’s Arms' on BBC Radio 4.

Daniel Cowling

Daniel Cowling is a Historian at the National Army Museum with a particular interest in modern British and European history. He completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, where he wrote a thesis on the British occupation of Germany. His first book, ‘Don’t Let’s Be Beastly to the Germans’, was published by Head of Zeus in 2023.