Art & Hue
Passport to Pimlico Group
On the 28th of April in 1949, “Passport to Pimlico” opened at both the Gaumont and Pavilion cinemas in London and proved to be a box office success.
Produced under the stewardship of Michael Balcon at Ealing Studios, “Passport to Pimlico” was one of the most popular films of 1949 and, along with “Whisky Galore!” and “Kind Hearts & Coronets”, all released in the same year within the space of two months, firmly established the Ealing Comedies.
The studios had released comedies previously, such as “Hue & Cry” in 1947, but Ealing’s prolific output in 1949 was a boom period for the studios, with critical and commercial success.
The post-war films tapped into the public mood, presenting tales of the small underdog battling a larger enemy, generally state bureaucracy or established institutions, and whilst the morals of the time couldn’t allow crime or rebellion to go rewarded, for a brief moment, audiences could will on the unlikely heroes.
In “Passport to Pimlico”, Basil Radford & Naunton Wayne continued their on-screen partnership that began in Alfred Hitchcock‘s “The Lady Vanishes” (which starred Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave & Cecil Parker) when they first appeared together as Charters & Caldicott.
The film also featured the formidable Margaret Rutherford as Professor Hatton-Jones, who demonstrates that Pimlico is actually part of Burgundy in France, following the discovery of a long-buried decree.
Nominated for a BAFTA, along with the Ealing Comedies “Whisky Galore!” and “Kind Hearts & Coronets”, it missed out to Carol Reed’s film noir “The Third Man“, which is also celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024.
Also available individually: Passport to Pimlico Poster, Margaret Rutherford, Basil Radford & Naunton Wayne, Charles Hawtrey.
Available in A4, A3, and A2 sizes to fit standard-size picture frames. Please note that black frames are not included – for a guide on choosing a frame size take a look here.
An official collaboration with Studiocanal, the Ealing Comedies pop art collection by Art & Hue is available in 3 sizes & 20 colours, printed on museum-quality archival card of 310gsm, made from 100% cotton, with fine-art pigment inks for longevity, exclusively by Art & Hue.
Rewatch, or discover anew, the film on DVD & Bluray from Amazon or watch on iTunes now.
“Passport to Pimlico” Copyright © STUDIOCANAL Films Ltd. (1949). All rights reserved.
Copyright © Art & Hue® 2024. All rights reserved.
