One of my favourite films, Passport to Pimlico was a film I first saw when I was a child, and the concept of it really appealed to me.
It came out in 1949, and is set a in post second world war London, Pimlico to be precise (funny that!). It stars Stanley Holloway (also in The Lavender Hill ... Read review
Ealing Studio's output from the 1940s and 1950s helped define what was arguably the golden ... more
age for British cinema. It fostered great directors such as Alexander Mackendrick and Robert Hamer, while giving stars such as Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers the chance to shine.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. The British government attempts to regain control by setting up border controls and cutting off services to the area. Written by Ealing regular T. E. B. Clarke, the film was nominated by BAFTA in the Best British Film category.
An archaic document found in a bombsite reveals that the London district of Pimlico has ... more
for centuries technically been part of France. The local residents embrace their new found continental status seeing it as a way to avoid the drabness austerity and rationing of post-war England. The authorities do not however share their enthusiasm... A whimsical and charming British film 'Passport To Pimlico' is one of the finest examples of the classic Ealing comedies.
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
Production Year: 1956 - Comedy - Director: Joshua Logan - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Betty Field, Hope Lange, Eileen Heckart, Arthur O'Connell, Casey Adams, Hans Conried, Robert Bray
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: Great one-liners, great idea for a film, love it! Disadvantages: None
One of my favourite films, Passport to Pimlico was a film I first saw when I was a child, and the concept of it really appealed to me.
It came out in 1949, and is set a in post second world war London, Pimlico to be precise (funny that!). It stars Stanley Holloway (also in The Lavender Hill Mob, My Fair Lady and much more), Margaret Rutherford (Miss Marple), and a very early appearance from Charles Hawtry (Carry On films).
...too much away, and besides, it is definitely a comedy worth seeing, there is an unexploded bomb, some kids are playing and accidentally(?) kick a tyre down the hole, which sets off the bomb, to reveal a hole (which I gather was a buried cellar) containing among jewels, coins etc, a set of important documents revealing to the inhabitants that Pimlico is in fact legally a part of Burgundy, France!
One of my favourite films, Passport to Pimlico was a film I first saw when I was a child, and the concept of it really appealed to me.
It came out in 1949, and is set a in post second world war London, Pimlico to be precise (funny that!). It stars Stanley Holloway (also in The Lavender Hill Mob, My Fair Lady and much more), Margaret Rutherford (Miss Marple), and a very early appearance from Charles Hawtry (Carry On films).
To summarise slightly, because I don't want to give too much away, and besides, it is definitely a comedy worth seeing, there is an unexploded bomb, some kids are playing and accidentally(?) kick a tyre down the hole, which sets off the bomb, to reveal a hole (which I gather was a buried cellar) containing among jewels, coins etc, a set of important documents revealing to the inhabitants that Pimlico is in fact legally a part of Burgundy, France!
There are some terrific one-liners in this film, one of my favvourites is when the police officer exclaims "Blimey! I'm a foreigner!". Trouble ensues when borders and checkpoints are set up, then goods are restricted from entering Pimlico, so a Black Market devlopes, and the whole thing is really farcical, but the characters are so terrific (Rutherford and Holloway in particular) and all in all it's a highly entertaining way to spends 84 minutes.
I'm sure that if you enjoy any of the Ealing films of the era, you will also love this.
Advantages: Gentle comedy, great characters and actors, Ealing Comedy Disadvantages: Outdated for some
**************************** NO SPOILERS ***************************
Pimlico as a name certainly has an unusual twang to it and does sound almost foreign, yet it is a borough of London. PassporttoPimlico is one of the now classic comedies which came out of the Ealing Studios, during their prime in the 1940's and 1950's. This gentle comedy is set in the era, just after the Second World War, when rationing is still very much in operation. During a long hot summer, the discovery of an unexploded bomb eventually leads to an exciting discvery, which may lead the citizens of Pimlicoto an apparent means of solving their shortages. A lot of this film was made on a set which was erected on a cleared bomb site in London.
This film has delightful characters and a wealth of those actors and actresses, who were my favourites during my ...
Advantages: 3 terrific classic films and lots of bonus material Disadvantages: no subtitles
Looking for an original Christmas present for Dad? Granddad? Uncle Arthur? Maybe even Auntie Maureen? Then step into my office, for I have an idea. That's it, pull up a seat? just move the cat? help yourself to sherry and make yourself comfortable? I've got 3 feature length films to review here?
A few years ago (about 2003, perhaps?) I was looking for the DVD of "PassporttoPimlico". Back then it wasn't possible to buy the film individually and so I opted for this gift set of Ealing Comedies, featuring not only "PassporttoPimlico" but two films I had not, at that time, heard of, namely "Hue and Cry" and "The Titfield Thunderbolt". I am so glad that I did. I have been treated to an additional two features from the postwar period of the Ealing Studios that I might never have come across otherwise, and some great bonus features to ...
tigswade 15.10.2006 (10.11.2006)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional Review of Ealing Comedy (DVD)
An ancient document reveals that London's Pimlico district really belongs to France. And the Pimlico community, eager to abandon post-War constraints, quickly establish their independence as a ration-free state, with hilarious results.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
21/06/2004
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
D 038123
Barcode
7321900381239
Screenwriter
T.E.B. Clarke
Director of Photography
Lionel Banes
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Aspect Ratio
1.33 Full Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital Mono
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital Mono English
DVD Description
A delightful Ealing comedy set in the war-ravaged English capital. When an old document, found on a bombsite, reveals that the London district of Pimlico is in actual fact a part of the French duchy of Burgundy, the residents declare independence from Britain. They even set up customs' checkpoints for passengers travelling through Pimlico station on the London Underground. Initially, they're delighted at the turn of events, which means they dispense with wartime rationing and free from other British government control. But when they get hit by food and water shortages of their own, Britain starts looking rosier by the minute.
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