Photos: Ealing Studios gets broadband virtual tour

Passport to Pimlico goes broadband

An interactive guide to Ealing Studios and its films has been launched by the British Film Institute (BFI).

Jonathan Ross presents the guide to the studios, most famous for its comedies including The Ladykillers and Passport to Pimlico. During the tour, Ross talks to the user and helps them decide which of the film clips would appeal most.

Photo credit: BT

Ross told silicon.com: "I'm hoping that when people access the site and go a little deeper than Passport to Pimlico they will look at other movies that don't get the showing on TV that they deserve - and find a neglected chapter of British cinema that deserves to live again."

Ealing represents a golden age of British cinema which could be gone forever. Ross warned it was "shocking" how little support UK film got from the government. "If it wasn't for the Bond movies and Harry Potter we'd be dead on our feet," he said.

Photo credit: BT

Mark Duguid, content editor of the BFI's screenonline website, said: "This is a project that is made possible because of broadband.

"This is an attempt to help people understand what Ealing was about. It's a very resonant name - Ealing and comedy seem to go together - but there's a lot more to Ealing than that. The war films are particularly interesting," he said. The interactive guide was developed by the BFI and its broadband provider BT.

Photo credit: BT