Classic Quintessentially English Comedy, set in the London Borough of Pimlico in the wake of the second World War.
There is all of the camaraderie, that showed itself during the conflict especially around the blitz. After the war Britain still had to undergo rationing, because essential materials were in short supply. Unlike defeated countries Britain wasn't bombarded with aid to help rebuild the country. People had to learn to what became known as make do and mend, meaning to be self sufficient.
Other effects of the war was unexploded bombs and other munitions, that remained buried where they laid. They were still being unearthed well after the war had finished until the present day, whenever roads were being repaired etc they could still be located.
In the film a bomb is discovered and exploded, this brings to light an underground tunnel with its buried treasure. This it transpired is related to the ancient Borough of Burgundy, when it existed as effectively an indipendant country. And when England was itself made up of similar entities, for the purpose of the film one of those is the part of London Pimlico.
In the film its discovered that Pimlico is part of Burgundy, which at that time meant it wasn't governed or affected by rationing. Which is why people enthusiastically embrace the whole notion of being French.
I love this film for so many reasons, it is a slice of time encapsulated in celluloid, a time of my childhood as I was born in 1948. It is a brilliant film with a mottley collection of colourful characters, and its a veritable who's who of comedy actors of the period. Its great to see so many of them at such an early stage in their careers. For instance Charles Hawtrey as nothing more than a kid, years before he saw fame in the Carry On films. Stanley Holloway is one of my absolute favourite actors from this period as is Margaret Rutherford, I really love them in everything that they have done.
Other effects of the war was unexploded bombs and other munitions, that remained buried where they laid. They were still being unearthed well after the war had finished until the present day, whenever roads were being repaired etc they could still be located.
In the film a bomb is discovered and exploded, this brings to light an underground tunnel with its buried treasure. This it transpired is related to the ancient Borough of Burgundy, when it existed as effectively an indipendant country. And when England was itself made up of similar entities, for the purpose of the film one of those is the part of London Pimlico.
In the film its discovered that Pimlico is part of Burgundy, which at that time meant it wasn't governed or affected by rationing. Which is why people enthusiastically embrace the whole notion of being French.
I love this film for so many reasons, it is a slice of time encapsulated in celluloid, a time of my childhood as I was born in 1948. It is a brilliant film with a mottley collection of colourful characters, and its a veritable who's who of comedy actors of the period. Its great to see so many of them at such an early stage in their careers. For instance Charles Hawtrey as nothing more than a kid, years before he saw fame in the Carry On films. Stanley Holloway is one of my absolute favourite actors from this period as is Margaret Rutherford, I really love them in everything that they have done.