Passport to Pimlico (Made in Britain film season)

Passport to Pimlico

(Henry Cornelius, 1949)

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed by Dave Lancaster

Summary: A delicious plot hook stands this Ealing comedy apart from the rest. See it while you can on the big screen as part of Studio Canal's Made in Britain season!
 

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What an excellent plot: After a bomb uncovers a buried old treasure trove, citizens of a London borough declare their own independence from the rest of Britain after they uncover an old treaty that means that Pimlico is actually under the ownership of Burgundy, France. The new Burgundians find that chaos without an established police and government ensues but when pressed the whole nation drums up support from the feisty microstate.

The characters that bleed out of this unique scenario are so wonderfully drawn you can't help but get into the spirit. A sample line from this truly British classic brims with dry wit: "We always were English, and we'll always be English, and it's just because we are English that we're sticking up for our rights to be Burgundians!" There are plenty more like it.

It's also got some reality in the background, considering that the Berlin Blockade was going on around the time of filming. Also coming out of the second world war, Britain's ideas of borders and bonding were also hot topics ripe for satire from the always dependable Ealing Studios who never failed to push the envelope.

If you haven't seen 'Passport to Pimlico' catch it on the big screen while you still can before the Blu-ray comes out.

'Passport to Pimlico' is released on restored special edition DVD and Blu-Ray on 11th June.

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This has been restored and re-released into UK cinemas for a limited engagement as part of Studio Canal's Made in Britain film season.

To find out more info and what other unique, forgotten British classics you can expect from the season check out our feature that contains a link to the showtimes and participating cinemas right HERE.

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