Passport to pimlico is a film directed by henry cornelius with stanley holloway, betty warren, barbara murray, paul dupuis, year. One such treasure is a document that states pimlico is. Passport to pimlico was actually filmed in lambeth, in a cleared bomb site off the lambeth road. Set after wwii in the pimlico section of london, 1949s passport to pimlico concerns an unexploded wwii bomb going after a group of kids accidentally set it off. Apr 15, 2014 when an unexploded wwii bomb is accidentally detonated in pimlico, it reveals a treasure trove and documents proving that the region is in fact part of burgundy, france and thus foreign territory. Stills must not be reproduced, copied or downloaded in any way. The pub you can see in this photo was the union flag, and is now the corner cafe on the. The film becomes a vehicle by which the british may actually experience their fantasies and dreams only to find that they. Passport to pimlico was nominated for the british academy film award for best british film and the academy award for writing story and screenplay. For the new burgundians this means an end to rationing. Passport to pimlico, too, is a great film, but many critics seem to have missed the obvious point of it. Minor touches such as the kids holding their hands on the local banks sunheated plaque passport to pimlico takes place during a heatwave for as long as possible are really quite endearing. Smith, in which a happy couple, carole lombard and robert montgomery, are informed that via a technicality, their marriage never legally occurred. Even the funniest line in the entire film well fight them on the tramlines, well fight them in the local is barely dwelt upon.
The film was written by the screenwriter of passport to pimlico. It is best known for a series of classic films produced in the postwwii years, including kind hearts and coronets 1949, passport to pimlico 1949, the lavender hill mob 1951, and the ladykillers 1955. The residents of pimlico in london stumble on ancient documents that let them claim the area still belongs to the duchy of burgundy in france. And this being an ealing film, the images of the capital are mostly of the picturepostcard variety. Dec 26, 2019 but one of their best is the lesser known passport to pimlico 1949, now available in a beautiful, digitally restored release. Passport to pimlico 1949 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Ealing studios output from the 1940s and 1950s helped define what was arguably the golden age for british cinema. Film comedy set in post war london, where the discovery of an ancient document in a bomb crater proves that part of london is in fact part of burgundy. A comedy film made by ealing studios in 1949, starring stanley holloway and margaret rutherford, and directed by henry cornelius when an unexploded world war ii bomb is accidentally set off in the working class pimlico district of central london, documents are uncovered proving that the area is part of the duchy of burgundy, and thus foreign territory. Passport to pimlico movie trailer and videos tv guide. Passport to pimlico digitally restored film movement classics. The british comedy, made by ealing studios and directed by henry cornelius, in which a group of london residents discover an undeground treasure trove from burgundy and. Passport to pimlico 1949 approved 1h 24min comedy 26 october 1949 usa residents of a part of london declare independence when they discover an old treaty. It was directed by henry cornelius and written by t.
The strict food rationing imposed in britain during world war ii actually got worse after the fighting was over, and this vintage comedy comes from that time. Jun 01, 2012 by rights, the final film should have been called passport to lambeth. Passport to pimlico is an ealing studios comedy set in the 1940s about a group of london residents who discover an old royal treaty suggesting that pimlico was once, and still is, a part of burgundy and so declare their independence. Clarke, passport to pimlico was nominated for a bafta in the best british film category. Jun 29, 2010 the unearthing of old documents leads to a small part of pimlico declaring itself to be a legal part of the house of burgundy, and therefore independent and exempt from postwar rationing and other bureaucratic restrictions. At the very moment britain and burgundy are reunited once more, as marked by the chimes of big ben, theres a clap of thunder, and rain pours down on the celebration banquet. Passport to pimlico is one of the most charmingly whimsical ealing. What we see in passport to pimlico, however, is a singularly ealingesque version of reality, informed by producer michael balcons pursuit of britishness within the unique selfdefining parameters of the british film. Apr 26, 2019 passport to pimlico, too, is a great film, but many critics seem to have missed the obvious point of it. Classic ealing comedy directed by henry cornelius, in which pimlico declares independence from postwar britain thanks to a 15thcentury deed, making them part of burgundy and therefore free of rationing. Passport to pimlico provides examples of alliterative title dramatic thunder. Directed by henry cornelius, passport to pimlico is a classic example of ealing comedy, a mixture of political satire and heartfelt humour thats typical of some of the studios most celebrated output first released 70 years ago, on 28 april 1949, the film follows the residents of pimlico, led by arthur pemberton stanley holloway, as they battle against bureaucracy and their own bloody. This was the final ealing comedy although some sources list davy as the last ealing comedy, and the last film guinness made for ealing studios.
Passport to pimlico is a 1949 british comedy film made by ealing studios and starring stanley holloway, margaret rutherford and hermione baddeley. Its a tribute to this film that more than half a century after its release its not only still a popular dvd selection but has now been turned into a musical. A secret history of passport to pimlico movies empire. When an unexploded wwii bomb is accidentally detonated in pimlico, it reveals a treasure. Though largely taking place in one specific area, passport to pimlico is littered with a handful of london snapshots.
Search hello select your address select your address. B clarke, who was responsible for another comedy classic, 1951s the lavender hill mob and directed by henry cornelius, passport to pimlico shows a great understanding of the. Its the greatest mockery of independence ever made on film. Passport to pimlico genevieve film the galloping major film law and disorder 1958 film i am a camera film kind hearts and coronets. If it no longer meets these criteria, you can reassess it. When an unexploded wwii bomb is accidentally detonated in pimlico, it reveals a treasure trove and documents proving that the region is in fact part of burgundy, france and thus foreign territory. Passport to pimlico a bristol film festival vintage.
I found the film a little dated and not as skillfully shot as later classic. This exploration of the british or specifically english character is at the heart of passport to pimlico. When an unexploded wwii bomb is accidentally detonated in pimlico, an area of london, it reveals a treasure trove and documents proving that the region is, in fact part of burgundy, france and thus. With stanley holloway, betty warren, barbara murray, paul dupuis. The film has some nice surprises and sharp dialogue a true ensemble comedy, no one performer dominates passport to pimlico, though many performances and characters stand out, among them. You cant miss the familiar laurel wreath logo on the old studio building, best known for the series of classic comedies of the 40s and 50s.
A famous scene from the ealing comedy passport to pimlico, with borders back up a sign of the future now the uk has voted to leave the eu. Passport to pimlico held its audience entranced throughout. Passport to pimlico is a funny bit of nonsense, albeit one that has some grounding in reality, from its slow start in the reality of postwar londonthe movie is actually dedicated to ration. When an unexploded wwii bomb is accidentally detonated in pimlico, it reveals a treasure trove and documents proving that the region is in. Filming continues on a rare dry summers day the film is set during the scorching summer of 1947, but was actually filmed.
Jun 24, 2016 a famous scene from the ealing comedy passport to pimlico, with borders back up a sign of the future now the uk has voted to leave the eu. Passport to pimlico british board of film classification. The film was released in the same year as whisky galore. Clarke, passport to pimlico was nominated by bafta in the best british film category and stars stanley holloway, hermione baddeley, margaret rutherford and paul dupuis.
But one of their best is the lesser known passport to pimlico 1949, now available in a beautiful, digitally restored release. Residents of a part of london declare independence when they discover an old treaty. We always were english and we always will be english, and its just because we are. Rather than pimlico, it was the wrecked surrounds of china walk, a mile to the south, that were used for the shoot. The british comedy, made by ealing studios and directed by henry cornelius, in which a group of london residents discover an undeground. It is the tale of a small part of postwar london that finds it belongs to the duchy of. Watch passport to pimlico movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. Stanley holloways stalwart burgundian prime minister.
As well as studio filming for passport to pimlico, it was at ealing that villagers kept their local steam train on the rails despite the underhand efforts of a modern, efficient and therefore untrustworthy bus company the titfield thunderbolt. Film movement classics bluray of passport to pimlico is a fine visual restoration. His first ealing success was in kind hearts and coronets 1949, in which he also played multiple roles. Apparently inspired by a reallife incident during the second world war, the film concerns the unintentional blast of an undetonated german bomb left over from the second.
Passport to pimlico restored on bluray mama likes this. Residents of a part of london declare independence, when they discover an old treaty. Directors henry cornelius cast includes stanley holloway, margaret rutherford, basil radford, naunton wayne, hermione baddeley, john slater. Passport to pimlico 1949 directed by henry cornelius.
Apparently inspired by a reallife incident during the second world war, the film concerns the unintentional blast of an undetonated german bomb left over from the second world war which. Passport to pimlico a bristol film festival vintage screening. Passport to pimlico is the ultimate antibrexit film. Film comedy set in post war london, where the discovery of an ancient document in a bomb crater proves that part of london is in fact part of. The british government however, sees thing slightly differently. Passport to pimlico has been listed as one of the media and drama good articles under the good article criteria. Jun 25, 2015 passport to pimlico movie 1949 stanley holloway, betty warren, barbara murray. Yet another of the brilliant ealing comedies, the 1949 passport to pimlico, reminds me in an odd way of a bit in alfred hitchcocks 1941 mr. The unearthing of old documents leads to a small part of pimlico declaring itself to be a legal part of the house of burgundy, and therefore independent and exempt from postwar rationing and other bureaucratic restrictions. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.
Its truly hilarious and wonderfully cynical in its assessment of british politics and human nature, a film to seek out and enjoy. Newly restored 1949 comedy classic passport to pimlico is a fine example of a postwar comedy produced by the renowned ealing studios. Before it even gets into its delightfully convoluted plot, 1949s passport to pimlico, directed by henry cornelius and out now on bluray from film movement classics, establishes its neighborhood setting in the same way spike lee would 40 years later. By rights, the final film should have been called passport to lambeth. Passport to pimlico is a funny bit of nonsense, albeit one that has some grounding in reality, from its slow start in the reality of postwar london the movie is actually dedicated to ration. As described in the discs extras, the impressive production recreated pimlico a real place in a bombflattened area of lambeth, tying in a railroad line and outside neighborhood to the constructed film sets. After it detonates, a room of hidden treasures is revealed. However, i can laugh now, as i watch the newly restored bluray.
When an unexploded wwii bomb is unexpectedly detonated in pimlico, it reveals a. When this film was first made, people in great britain and around the world were getting used to a new normal after the end of wwii. Passport to pimlico 1949 publication date 1949 topics comedy. The lesson learnt is that a chopchop separation is both unfeasible and undesirable. For this screening, well be showing the classic ealing comedy passport to pimlico. Passport to pimlico movie 1949 stanley holloway, betty warren, barbara murray. Just like in the film s story, pimlico is not quite as it seems. After the war, he appeared in the film brief encounter and made a series of films for ealing studios, including passport to pimlico, the lavender hill mob and the titfield thunderbolt.