Passport to Pimlico

A British comedy film Passport To Pimlico (Ealing Studios made in 1948).

The story concerns the residents of Pimlico in post-war London. Following the explosion of a bomb left over from the Second World War, a buried cellar is discovered, in which artworks, coins, jewellery and a ancient parchment are found. The document is examined by Professor Hatten-Jones (Margaret Rutherford) who claims that it proves Pimlico, a small area in London, to be independent from Britain. It is in fact part of the ancient Dukedom of Burgundy, granted to the last Duke several hundred years ago. A Frenchman comes forward, stating that he is heir to the Dukedom, long thought to be extinct, and to claim his rights. (Comparing to historical reality, if that last Duke of Burgundy is intended to be Charles the Bold (1433-1477), then the heir general is found in real life among the Bourbons of Italy. In 1948, the heir was Joseph, Duke of Parma (1875-1950), an incapable secluded in Pianore, regented and succeeded by his brother Elias, Duke of Parma (1880-1959) from Austria - then the latter's son Robert II (1909-74) who lived mostly in Vienna, Austria. Currently, after some other childless heirs, the heiress is his sister Alice, Duchess of Calabria, b 1917, who lives in Spain.)

Pimlico declares independence and becomes a micronation. The residents of the area form a government, headed by the Duke, the local bank manager and a shop-owner Mr Pemberton (Stanley Holloway). The negotiate with the British government, who take them very seriously, but faced with starvation and bankruptcy, the eventually agree to rejoin Britain.

Margaret Rutherford, Stanley Holloway and Hermione Baddeley star under Henry Cornelius's direction.

The script is by T.E.B. Clarke and demonstrates his usual logical development of absurd ideas. Filmed at about the time of the Berlin Blockade, some scenes where the residents of the new nation are refused passage out of their district into London by the authorities, and rely on supplies thrown over the dividing wall by well-wishers, were very topical at the time.

A BBC Radio 4 adaptation was broadcast on January 20, 1996.

A comparison can be made with the case of Seborga, an equally fictional entity, coterminous with a village in Italy.

See Also