Colonel Blimp
Encyclopedia
Colonel Blimp is a British
cartoon character.
The cartoonist
David Low first drew Colonel Blimp for Lord Beaverbrook's London Evening Standard
in the 1930s: pompous, irascible, jingoistic and stereotypically
British. Low developed the character after overhearing two military men in a Turkish bath declare that cavalry
officers should be entitled to wear their spur
s inside tank
s.
Blimp would issue proclamations from the Turkish bath, wrapped in his towel and brandishing some mundane weapon to emphasize his passion on some issue of current affairs. Unfortunately, his pronouncements were often confused and childlike. His phrasing often includes direct contradiction, as though the first part of a sentence of his did not know what it was leading to, with the conclusion being part of an emotional catchphrase.
Blimp was a satire
on the reactionary
opinions of the British establishment of the 1930s and 1940s, epitomized by Winston Churchill
. Colonel Blimp was intended to portray Low's perceptions of British politics at the time. Although Low described him as "a symbol of stupidity", he added that "stupid people are quite nice".
George Orwell
and Tom Wintringham
made especially extensive use of the term "blimps", Orwell in his articles and Wintringham in his books How to Reform the Army and People's War, with exactly the above meaning in mind.
In his 1941 essay "The Lion and the Unicorn
", Orwell referred to two important sub-sections of the middle class, one of which was the military and imperialistic middle class, nicknamed the Blimps, and characterised by the "half-pay colonel with his bull neck and diminutive brain". He added that they had been losing their vitality over the past thirty years, "writhing impotently under the changes that were happening".
A more likeable version of Blimp appeared in the classic British film The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
starring Roger Livesey
and Deborah Kerr
. It was made in 1943, when the war was at its height, by Powell and Pressburger
. The "Blimp" character was named Clive Candy and is not actually called "Blimp" other than in the title. Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
sought to ban the film due to its sympathetic presentation of a German officer (played by Anton Walbrook
), albeit an anti-Nazi
one, who is more down-to-earth and realistic than the central British character.
The character has survived in the form of a cliché
d phrase – highly reactionary opinions are characterised as "Colonel Blimp" statements.
In a recent book, historian Christopher Clark
used the term "blimpish" to characterise the Prussia
n Field Marshal Mollendorf who distinguished himself as an officer in the Seven Years' War
but whose conservatism and opposition to military reform was considered to have contributed to Prussia's defeat in the Battle of Jena. In his review of Garner's Modern American Usage
, David Foster Wallace
referred to the "Colonel Blimp's rage" of Prescriptivist journalists like William Safire
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
cartoon character.
The cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
David Low first drew Colonel Blimp for Lord Beaverbrook's London Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
in the 1930s: pompous, irascible, jingoistic and stereotypically
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
British. Low developed the character after overhearing two military men in a Turkish bath declare that cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
officers should be entitled to wear their spur
Spur
A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids . The spur is used in every equestrian discipline...
s inside tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s.
Blimp would issue proclamations from the Turkish bath, wrapped in his towel and brandishing some mundane weapon to emphasize his passion on some issue of current affairs. Unfortunately, his pronouncements were often confused and childlike. His phrasing often includes direct contradiction, as though the first part of a sentence of his did not know what it was leading to, with the conclusion being part of an emotional catchphrase.
Blimp was a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
on the reactionary
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
opinions of the British establishment of the 1930s and 1940s, epitomized by Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. Colonel Blimp was intended to portray Low's perceptions of British politics at the time. Although Low described him as "a symbol of stupidity", he added that "stupid people are quite nice".
George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
and Tom Wintringham
Tom Wintringham
Thomas Henry Wintringham was a British soldier, military historian, journalist, poet, Marxist, politician and author. He was an important figure in the formation of the Home Guard during World War II and was one of the founders of the Common Wealth Party.-Early life:Tom Wintringham was born 1898...
made especially extensive use of the term "blimps", Orwell in his articles and Wintringham in his books How to Reform the Army and People's War, with exactly the above meaning in mind.
In his 1941 essay "The Lion and the Unicorn
The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius
"The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius" is an essay by George Orwell expressing his opinions on the situation in wartime Britain. The title alludes to the heraldic supporters appearing in the full royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom....
", Orwell referred to two important sub-sections of the middle class, one of which was the military and imperialistic middle class, nicknamed the Blimps, and characterised by the "half-pay colonel with his bull neck and diminutive brain". He added that they had been losing their vitality over the past thirty years, "writhing impotently under the changes that were happening".
A more likeable version of Blimp appeared in the classic British film The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is a 1943 film by the British film making team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger under the production banner of The Archers. It stars Roger Livesey, Deborah Kerr and Anton Walbrook. The title derives from the satirical Colonel Blimp comic strip by David...
starring Roger Livesey
Roger Livesey
Roger Livesey was a British stage and film actor. He is most often remembered for the three Powell & Pressburger films in which he starred: The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, I Know Where I'm Going! and A Matter of Life and Death...
and Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr, CBE was a Scottish film and television actress from Glasgow. She won the Sarah Siddons Award for her Chicago performance as Laura Reynolds in Tea and Sympathy, a role which she originated on Broadway, a Golden Globe Award for the motion picture The King and I, and was a three-time...
. It was made in 1943, when the war was at its height, by Powell and Pressburger
Powell and Pressburger
The British film-making partnership of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, also known as The Archers, made a series of influential films in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1981 they were recognized for their contributions to British cinema with the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award, the most prestigious...
. The "Blimp" character was named Clive Candy and is not actually called "Blimp" other than in the title. Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
sought to ban the film due to its sympathetic presentation of a German officer (played by Anton Walbrook
Anton Walbrook
Anton Walbrook, born was an Austrian actor who settled in the United Kingdom.- Life :...
), albeit an anti-Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
one, who is more down-to-earth and realistic than the central British character.
The character has survived in the form of a cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
d phrase – highly reactionary opinions are characterised as "Colonel Blimp" statements.
In a recent book, historian Christopher Clark
Christopher Clark
Christopher M. Clark is an Australian historian working in England. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School, the University of Sydney and the Freie Universität Berlin.-Life:...
used the term "blimpish" to characterise the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Field Marshal Mollendorf who distinguished himself as an officer in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
but whose conservatism and opposition to military reform was considered to have contributed to Prussia's defeat in the Battle of Jena. In his review of Garner's Modern American Usage
Garner's Modern American Usage
Garner's Modern American Usage, edited by Bryan Garner, is a usage guide for contemporary American English. Modern American Usage covers issues of usage, pronunciation, and style, from plurals and literary techniques to distinctions between similar words and the usage of foreign terms.-Editions and...
, David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace was an American author of novels, essays, and short stories, and a professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California...
referred to the "Colonel Blimp's rage" of Prescriptivist journalists like William Safire
William Safire
William Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter....
.