The Crimson Permanent Assurance

The Crimson Permanent Assurance

Year: 1983

Runtime: 16 mins

Language: English

FantasyComedyAdventure

In this short feature, a band of down‑and‑out accountants stage a mutiny against their oppressive bosses, taking their entire office building and launching it onto the open sea in a quest to live like pirates, trading spreadsheets for adventure on the high seas.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Crimson Permanent Assurance yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – The Crimson Permanent Assurance (1983)

Trace every key event in The Crimson Permanent Assurance (1983) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Rebellion ignites after VBCA takeover

The elderly clerks of Permanent Assurance are outraged when VBCA takes over their London firm. Tensions flare after a younger management regime sacks one of their own, sparking a collective resolve to resist. They quietly begin organizing against their corporate masters.

City of London, Permanent Assurance office
2

Wrongful sacking leads to hostage situation

The clerks lock the surviving supervisors in the safe as hostages and force their boss to walk a makeshift plank out of a window. The dramatic display consolidates the rebellion and demonstrates their willingness to take bold action. The workplace power dynamics shift decisively in their favor.

Permanent Assurance office, London
3

Office building becomes a pirate ship

With the rebellion secured, the Edwardian office building is transformed into a pirate ship, its scaffolding and tarpaulins serving as sails. The structure seems to weigh anchor and glide away from the office floor. London watchers marvel as the shiplike building sails toward the horizon.

Permanent Assurance building, London
4

Leaving the City of London

The stone office building sails out of the City of London, leaving the financial center behind. It heads toward a new financial hub as if the entire firm has become a vessel on the high seas.

City of London
5

Voyage toward a new financial center

The moving office ship continues its voyage to another financial center, marching across the economic map as the crew of clerks revels in their rebellion. They push onward in search of further adventures and challenges for their sea bound crusade.

Unspecified financial center
6

Raid on VBCA skyscraper begins

The crew attacks VBCA's skyscraper with improvised weapons, using wooden filing cabinets as carronades and blades fashioned from ceiling fan parts. The siege starts with a torrent of unorthodox artillery and bold boarding actions. The corporate fortress trembles under the assault.

VBCA skyscraper
7

Rope entry into the boardroom

On ropes the clerks swing into the boardroom and engage the VBCA executives in hand to hand combat. The battle is chaotic and spirited, with the pirates employing surprising tactics. The executives fight back in a tense clash of wills.

VBCA boardroom
8

Victory and sea shanty celebration

The VBCA executives are vanquished after a long and drawn out battle, and the clerks celebrate by singing a heroic sea shanty. Their morale soars as they continue their voyage on the accountan sea. The victory feels jubilant and defiant.

VBCA boardroom and ship deck
9

Sailing the accountan sea in search of adventure

With victory secured, the pirates set sail again, riding the waves of the accountan sea. They seek further adventures across financial waters, keeping the pirate spirit alive on the moving building. The voyage embodies their rebellious optimism.

On board the office ship at sea
10

Believe the world is wrong and fall off the edge

The crew grows convinced that the shape of the world is disastrously wrong and they fall off the edge of the world. The moment blends absurdity with a sly commentary typical of Monty Python. The adventure ends in a surreal punchline as they vanish from the stage.

Edge of the world
11

Crimson Permanent Assurance reappears in the Meaning of Life

In the middle of The Meaning of Life during the donor scene, the Crimson Permanent Assurance suddenly re-emerges in the VBCA headquarters boardroom. The executives momentarily react to the unexpected intrusion, as if the raid were crossing over from another film. The crossover playfully unsettles the narrative boundaries.

Mid-film donor scene VBCA boardroom (The Meaning of Life donor scene)
12

Boardroom battle resumes

The opening of the raid is repeated as the ship appears, and the boardroom battle seems to replay itself. The executives brace as the clerks deploy familiar unorthodox tactics once more. The juxtaposition of two films heightens the meta humor.

VBCA boardroom
13

Skyscraper falls; unwarranted attack apology

A skyscraper crashes down, crushing the Permanent Assurance building as the raid nears its end. A voice-over apologizes for the unwarranted attack by the supporting feature, punctuating the meta joke. The collision of the two narratives lands with a final ironic note.

VBCA HQ / Permanent Assurance building

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:49

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Crimson Permanent Assurance

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Crimson Permanent Assurance in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Crimson Permanent Assurance is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Crimson Permanent Assurance Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Crimson Permanent Assurance, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Crimson Permanent Assurance Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Crimson Permanent Assurance

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Crimson Permanent Assurance. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Crimson Permanent Assurance

More About The Crimson Permanent Assurance

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Crimson Permanent Assurance: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Crimson Permanent Assurance

Similar Movies to The Crimson Permanent Assurance

Discover movies like The Crimson Permanent Assurance that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.