TimR

I found this film after posting a thread on “London on Film” in the 1930s and 40s:

http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/as...30s-1940s.html

Several posters included helpful suggestions and Steve Crook included a list that, in turn, included this film.

It certainly is a gem of location filming, and more than worth seeing for that reason alone. Of course, it also a well-done – and unique – comedy that could not have been made anywhere else, or even at any other time.

I had certainly heard of it, but I saw it for the first time just a few days ago. Maybe it will seem surprising to the British posters, but at first I found it slightly inaccessible. That is an enjoyable challenge for me, as British films are close to what I know in some ways, and yet utterly different.

I had not seen this world of post-war austerity portrayed on film before. There is a slight tone of harsh sadness that accompanies the humor, and the setting of genuine sacrifice that makes the story itself understandable. It took some time to become accustomed to it. Also, in the early scenes I could not understand some of the dialogue. I don't mean that I couldn't grasp the meaning. I mean that I literally didn't understand some of the words, because the speech was so rapid.

By the time the people of Pimlico (Pimlicans? I never did figure that out) discover they are on Burgundian soil I was completely absorbed in this odd mixture of comedy, fantasy and harsh reality.

My favorite scenes:

Margaret Rutherford holding forth in a hot and crowded courtroom on the convoluted history of the Burgundian connection.

All of the wonderfully clever and witty “documentary footage” that combine real news scenes with the Pimlico drama.

The battle over water for Pimlico.

The customs check on the London subway as the new Burgundy frontier is crossed

And the best scene in the film: the spontaneous generosity of Londoners as they toss food to the hungry Pimlico/Burgundians, at first from a gathered crowd, and then from by any conceivable means.

My one complaint: There isn't enough of Margaret Rutherford.

But is there ever?

Bernardo

What a lady Margaret Rutherford was! Everyone's ideal favourite auntie how could you not love her? Lovely choice TimR, it has pride of place in my collection and you covered the best bits very well. For a Brit you could also add that the cast had a wealth of very popular characters and the 'cor blimey' language element was not forced. Also these 1940's films were made with passion for one, we had or were surviving a very traumatic period in our history which all levels of society had shared and secondly, the art of the cinema was at a high level. In the film there is a scene where septic tanks used in the war as water reservoirs for the fire service were used for bathing. I can remember being forbidden to use them.

TimR

Thanks for the comments, Benardo. Interesting.

There are so many well-made and moving documentaries and other films made about Britain just before and during the war. It is rare for me to see something that deals with that extraordinary period of austerity.

I recognized several of the character actors you mention from other films, and very different roles: Stanley Holloway, Raymond Huntley and Hermione Baddeley.

EHV_Emmetts

Passport to Pimlico (1949)

A throughly enjoyable film which manages to turn the harsh realities of post-war Britain with it ration books, unexploded bombs, into humour.

It was a vehicle for a large contingent of British character actors such as Stanley Holloway, Philip Stainton, Sydney Tafler. I particularly enjoyed the performances of Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne playing the befuddled Foreign Office officials.

Welcome back TimR.

CaptainWaggett

Ealing originally wanted Alastair Sim to play the Professor and Jack Warner to play Pemberton (he decided to do the Blue Lamp instead).

DB7

It's a lovely wistful film but one where Ealing were showing they were slightly behind the times; in fact the railways could almost be a metaphor for Ealing Studios. Times had moved on and both were failing to modernize. Maybe it captures our romanticised tho not entirely practical love affair with the steam train.

TimR

Yes - the tone of the film is very unusual. I can't think of anything that is exactly equivalent. There are other comedies that address harsh realities, but I can't hink of another that has this mix of documentary and satire as well.

Thanks