The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) - "The Truth" Monologue

The inestimable Anton Walbrook's speech to the UK Department of Immigration in Powell & Pressburger's lavish, seminal British epic.

[@alwaysblake148]

One of the greatest moments in film history. You find yourself holding your breath to listen to all this man says. It is as if you re eavesdropping into the room. This is the work of a genius actor.

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

Absolutely true in every word you used .

[@marcjones1411]

It's one of my favourite scenes in any movie. It's superb. One long take, with that monologue by Anton Walbrook, who just delivers a masterclass in acting. It's in the voice, the eyes, the delivery. As he speaks the traffic noises die down and there's just him, speaking words that make you want to cry, the loss, the anger, the pain in those words! Magnificent. There's a reason why Scorsese was blown away by this film.

[@stevenhumes1405]

I am just mesmerized by this very long take of a brilliant monologue delivered in such a deceptively simple fashion by a truly great actor. I had always appreciated Walbrook, but it was only today, when I first saw "Colonel Blimp," that I realized how profound a performer he was. I am humbled by his astounding, immeasurable talent.

[@neilscarborough1255]

I have NEVER in my life seen such an amazing mesmerizing monologue from beginning to end. Anton Walbrook is a genius and that was extremely emotional

[@Darkmind1970]

One long uninterrupted take - a masterpiece of acting by Anton Walbrook.

[@gbernd2837]

Walbrook was an immigrant to England, as was screenwriter Pressburger. I think they both put their own expirience into that magnificent scene.

[@mrcommonsense9145]

I watched this with my Grandad when i was 15. Im 28 now and this is still and example of nothing less than exceptional film making.

[@emilygracey]

It's an absolute sin that Anton Walbrook was never nominated/never won an Oscar. This film, The 49th Parallel, The Red Shoes and Gaslight are all Oscar worthy performances. He deserved so much more attention than he got and he fought so hard in his life (eg: fleeing Europe during World War II because of his strong anti-Nazi stance, changing his birth name so he would't have any connection if only even by name, his hidden homosexuality in an intolerant time, and his death at the age of 69 of a heart attack) You deserved better, sir. However, I'm elated that people are now acknowledging his brilliance.

[@pruthvish007]

Not to forget his work with Max Ophuls

[@lawofaverages5373]

Thank you for this. Never heard of this film nor the Actor but very pleased for the introduction. Very powerful monologue indeed.

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

So beautifully put . Bless you .

[@rumbalala]

One of the greatest monologues ever delivered in a British film, or from anywhere else. Anton Walbrook was a fantastic actor. Bless him.

[@loge10]

I never noticed this before, even though I've seen the movie many times, but check out the man behind Walbrook at the start of his monologue. He's out of focus, he's just doing his work almost oblivious yet as the monologue progresses, and Walbrook goes into conditions of Germany after the war, you see him take notice of what Walbrook is saying, stop what he is doing, and he starts listening attentively. Brilliant film-making (and acting by Walbrook), and one of my favorite movies of all.

[@philipdeacon1920]

Yes, it's one of my favourite moments in the film. The man in the background is a police constable, taking notes of Theo's statement. It is immensely significant that he stops his emotionally uninvolved task and becomes captivated by Theo's words.

[@timcarpenter2441]

Yes, when he says “the gangsters put the honest people in jail”. It resonates. It did then, it did after, it does now and will forever do so.

[@marvinc999]

Beautiful - a simply beautiful piece of acting by Anton Walbrook. And that, Sir, is the Truth !!

[@gaspode18]

I love how simple this scene is. No flashy camerawork, just a slow pan in and out again while letting a great actor just do his job.

[@Luke18_13]

❤😢 I love this movie so much... when my mother was alive, we would watch this so much.. it was a great treasure in or hearts. I'm 35 years old now, and in so thankful that my mother and father raised me to appreciate the classics. Cheers.

[@ifeelallright]

You would watch it so much? Or very much?

[@nickywiresdyson1]

❤️

[@TH-nf1eo]

As Walbrook delivers the monologue, the background traffic sound effects are faded out. It's a subtle yet effective technique of making you focus on the dialogue and to make you feel closer to him.

[@chrishee3286]

Never gets old, an enduring message which everyone should watch.

[@Ragnemalm]

A beautiful speech in a beautiful movie. The movie is technically so simple, low budget, ofter downright poor on effects, but everything is done by the actors, and with some subtle symbolic shots like the leaf in the basin and the snow falling on the building where they are fighting the duel in the "fall" of the old honorable ways. And when I checked out the "Colonel Blimp" character I also see why the opening and the whole concept is so great. They take a character of simple jokes and give him depth. My two favourite scenes must be this scene and the ending by the basin. "Now, here is the lake and I still havn't changed."

[@MaltingFarm99]

Powell and Pressberger were years ahead of their time.

[@tomhamilton5261]

A powerful and mesmerising actor. Unforgettable also in Gaslight and The Red Shoes.

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

The grandmother of a colleague was in Paris when the Nazis came in. I remember her telling stories like this. We would grow very quiet as she spoke, not only out of respect for her, and what she had been through, because we knew intuitively we were hearing something that was of great importance. A particular time in history that would not come again..Ethically, morally, spiritually...this beautiful monologue by Walbrook is that same kind of moment...

[@rosshilton]

I was working in Paris in the early 80s. One night I met a beautiful American girl. She had been visiting her father who was stationed in Germany. Due to delays she had arrived late in Paris and had an early morning flight back to the USA. She was heartbroken that she would not see Paris, so I took her on a late night tour. Everywhere was shut, but she saw all of the sights. We walked down the banks of the Sein, and sat at outside tables at a cafe. An old man came out and told us quite rudely that he was shut. He then started stacking chairs. The American girl got up and helped him, so I joined in. When the tables were put away, the old man put one table and three chairs out, and told us to sit. She then opened a magnificent red wine, and told us of his life. He could remember WW1, the glorious years after, and WW2. It was fascinating. I don’t think the young girl fully appreciated what she was hearing. I hope she remembers that warm summer night, a glorious wine and a life story. I

[@mikeybinmike]

You are unfortunately mistaken to believe a time like that will never come again. It is already knocking on the world’s door.

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

Time stood still .

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

@@mikeybinmike You've been proved right , by events taking place right at this very moment .

[@HaroldGriffin-083]

Nicely said. You watched to the end?

[@marvinc9994]

God bless Marty Scorsese for bringing the genius of Powell and Pressburger to our attention. Imagine if those prints had been lost forever.....................

[@peterd788]

Indeed. It's a classic example of seeming to do so little to say so much but then when you watch it everything in shot is so right. The truth about "The Truth" is there's nothing uncomplicated about it. It's quiet perfection.

[@BarkingSands]

How I love this monologue. A beautiful, clear copy. Thank you for posting.

[@leonjorgh]

An awesome photographer showed his postcards collection and love for Anton Walbrook on his instagram a few days ago, then I saw "the red shoes" and fall in love, madly, with walbrook's talent... his performances are full of humanity and emotion, this for example completely melts my heart, there's a tenderness and so much melancholy in his words... I'm so fuckin' mad that I haven't watched his work before...

[@mrsjameshook]

But just think - now you get to watch all his work for the first time! I agree he's really a magnificent actor. I recommend Gaslight as well if you haven't seen it...

[@leonjorgh]

Yes! is next on my list, @@mrsjameshook

[@andyjackson9313]

Amazing. Later this month, this film comes out on Blu Ray. As does Lawrence of Arabia - two of British Cinema's finest moments.

[@whoostino]

Boy, I just love this speech.

[@joep8787]

Notice how much acting he does with his eyes! If you watch the dialog in "The Red Shoes" between Moira Shearer and Walbrook about "why do you want to dance?" you'll notice the same thing. Walbrook never reverts to method acting screaming like Brando or Pacino. He does it all with his eyes.

[@tomhamilton5261]

He is also wonderful in the original “Gaslight” A brilliant powerful actor

[@robertmusacchio3088]

Garbo also acted with her eyes.

[@moviereviews1446]

Such a brilliant scene, from the perspective of direction and acting, could never occur today.

[@dpw81]

Gets me every time.

[@rebeccaday8612]

And at the time this was made, they didn't know who would win the war or what the outcome would be.

[@bryanbelshaw7725]

I'm in my 50s and this scene still makes me cry. One of the greatest imo in British cinema history.

[@JuanCarandell]

One of the best movie of all time.

[@juancarandellrojo]

BEST MOVIE EVER

[@jamest681]

Brilliant actor.

[@MaltingFarm99]

The sign of a GOOD actor is when he can keep you interested, even when he doesn't speak.

[@stevenkoehler6018]

Yes---It's Presence

[@CaptApril123]

Just finished watching this film.. wow..that's all I can say.. wow.

[@xxxxxxxx3476]

What a performance . And in one take !!!

[@andyoncam1]

A hugely moving speech, in a brilliant film.

[@robinstevenson1098]

So Sad.

[@Bondek1996]

A great scene in one of the best movies Britain made.

[@andreaportoghese2190]

Come ascoltare in italiano

[@amandeepdhillon9717]

In The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, what moral adage does Candy espouse? Question 3 options: "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" "Let the past die" "That which does not kill us makes us stronger" "Speak softly and carry a big stick" "Rules were made to be broken" "Cheaters never prosper" "Right makes might" None of the above. Candy does not espouse any moral adages.

[@eugenemurray2940]

What is a Natzi these days? The sinister thing That stalks our Isles

[@Rozsaphile]

He gives another fine speech in "The Forty-Ninth Parallel" as a German-Canadian Hutterite rejecting the promptings of a Nazi officer: "We are not your brothers."