Passport to Pimlico (1949)

Residents of a part of London declare independence when they discover an old treaty. This leads to the need for a "Passport to Pimlico".

Director:

Henry Cornelius

Writer:

T.E.B. Clarke (original screenplay)

Stars:

Stanley Holloway, Betty Warren, Barbara Murray

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stanley Holloway	...	Arthur Pemberton
Betty Warren	...	Connie Pemberton
Barbara Murray	...	Shirley Pemberton
Paul Dupuis	...	Duke of Burgundy
John Slater	...	Frank Huggins
Jane Hylton	...	Molly
Raymond Huntley	...	Mr. Wix
Philip Stainton	...	P.C.Spiller
Roy Carr	...	Benny Spiller
Sydney Tafler	...	Fred Cowan
Nancy Gabrielle	...	Mrs. Cowan
Malcolm Knight	...	Monty Cowan
Hermione Baddeley	...	Edie Randall
Roy Gladdish	...	Charlie Randall
Frederick Piper	...	Garland

Storyline

When an unexploded World War II bomb is accidentally detonated in Pimlico, London, England, it reveals a treasure trove. They find 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. The "Burgundians" fight back.

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Plot Keywords:

pimlico london | burgundy | bomb | state within a state | london england | 

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Taglines:

It's the wittiest comedy in years!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The isolation of Pimlico and its support by the common people of London is a reference to the Berlin blockade of June 1948 to May 1949.

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Goofs

The skywriting plane describes a loop to the left in close-up but when we see the whole message "Stick it out" there are no such loops.

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Quotes

P.C. Spiller: Blimey, I'm a foreigner.

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Crazy Credits

The J. Arthur Rank logo segues into the opening credits.

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Connections

Featured in Arena: Cinema (1977)

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Soundtracks

Mulberry
(uncredited)
Music by Kenneth Leslie-Smith
Chappell Recorded Music Library
"Siege of Burgundy" newsreel in cinema

User Reviews

perfect political satire

Very funny, well-crafted, well-acted, meticulous attention to detail. A real window into a specific time and place in history. Could almost believe this was a true story in a parallel universe. Interesting how Passport to Pimlico anticipates the Berlin airlift. A definite 10.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Passport to Pimlico

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min 70 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1