Director: Henry Cornelius
Release Date: April 1949
On 2 June 1948 the Daily Mirror reported that ‘One of the worst blitzed areas of South London is rising again in record time, writes Reg Whitley. And without any licence from the building authority. Site on which one of the quickest building jobs in history has started is a two-acre sector between Lambeth-road and Lambeth-walk, S.E. But the whole of this reconstruction area – even the bricks – will be built from plaster and plywood. Ealing Films have chosen the site for shooting their new comedy, “Passport to Pimlico.” ‘ The Sphere elaborated, 19 June, by adding that ‘the barren site [is] bounded by Lambeth Road, Saville Place, Sail Street, and Little Canterbury Place’ and that ‘Lambeth will represent Pimlico in the picture.’ The Falkirk Herald, 20 October, added that a ‘scene just filmed showed crowds of sympathisers throwing food parcels to the “Burgundians,” this time from a train passing over a nearby bridge. Approximately 50 extras were taken to Waterloo and put aboard a train crossing the bridge adjoining the Lambeth site. At a given signal parcels rained on the movie set – expert marksmanship on the part of the players in the moving train.’
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The view out of the Lambeth set across Lambeth Road into Hercules Road.
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Barbara Murray approaching Lambeth Road with the Union Flag pub standing on the corner of Hercules Road.
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The view from Lambeth Road across to the burnt out backs of Lambeth Walk.
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As Stanley Holloway looks from a window Lambeth Walk is in the distance with the French Horn pub, on the corner of Walnut Tree Walk, to the left.
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As the camera pans to the right the rounded windows of the Angel pub, with white stone facing, come into sight at 73 Lambeth Walk.
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As the 'Pimlico' Londoners morph into 'Burgundians' the political ramifications are highlighted by this view north along Whitehall.
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Transport for evacuees from 'Burgundy' awaits in this view east along Lambeth Road.
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Activity in 'Burgundy' shows the dome of the Imperial War Museum rising above the backs of houses in Kennington Road.
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News of the political standoff reaches Farringdon Street with Holborn Viaduct in the distance.
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Evacuees from 'Burgundy' crossing Shaftesbury Avenue with the Criterion Restaurant, 218-223 Piccadilly behind them.
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As they reach the middle of Shaftesbury Avenue Piccadilly Circus and corner of Piccadilly and Regent Street are visible.
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The boys approaching a news cinema, at the end of Shaftesbury Avenue, showing the 'Siege of Burgundy' with Regent Street curving to the right.
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The 'Pimlico' set with Big Ben and the Victoria Tower, at the southern end of the Houses of Parliament, in the distance.
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I obviously need a better print of this film while this view from Lambeth Road shows Philip Stainton crossing China Walk with Wedgewood House, on the corner of Lambeth Walk, dominating the background.
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News of the political differences between 'Burgundy' and Great Britain reach Trafalgar Square as this man buys a newspaper.
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'Burgundian' evacuees visit the London Zoo.
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Michael Hordern crossing Lambeth Road with Hercules Road to the left.
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Food parcels rain down from a train crossing Lambeth Road with a building on Millbank visible beneath the bridge.
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The 'Burgundy' debate continues in Trafalgar Square with St. Martin-in-the-Fields in the background.
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Charles Hawtrey assessing the situation with the French Horn pub, Lambeth Walk, to the right.
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The end of 'Burgundy' party shows Lambeth Road and the spire of Christ Church, Westminster Bridge Road, above the tree.