Paddington & the pop-up book (Paddington 2)
The pop-up book is an item that appears in the film Paddington 2. It was created by Madame Kozlova's grandmother, known by her stage name 'The Flying Swan'.
Contents of Book[]
The book contains 12 double-page moving paper images of London's well-known sights. At each of the landmarks, there is a letter to be found that corresponds with a musical note. If all the letters are found and played on the organ from Madame Kozlova's Steam Fair, then The Flying Swan's hidden treasure will be revealed.
History[]
There was a circus performer who was known primarily for the trapeze, known as 'The Flying Swan'. Due to her beauty and talent, she amassed many admirers and was showered with great wealth. A fellow performer, the Magician, envied her riches and engineered the Flying Swan's demise in order to steal her treasure. However, the Flying Swan was clever, and had hidden the precious gifts. All the Magician found was a pop-up book, '12 Landmarks of London'. The authorities arrived to arrest the Magician for murder, but he vanished in a puff of smoke, never to be seen again.
In the movie Paddington 2, Madame Kozlova, the granddaughter of the Flying Swan, gives Mr. Gruber some items to sell for her while her Steam Fair is in town. Paddington chooses the pop-up book as his gift to Aunt Lucy for her hundredth birthday. However, Paddington cannot afford the book, so he becomes a window-washer.
Before Paddington can earn enough money, the pop-up book is stolen late at night by a thief, dressed like Magwitch from the Dickens novel Great Expectations. After chasing the thief to Windsor Gardens, he disappears in a puff of smoke and Paddington is left to take the blame for the crime.
Phoenix Buchanan is revealed to be the grandson of the Magician, and the thief 'Magwitch' in disguise. He desires the Kozlova fortune, which he will use to finance his one-man show on the West End. During the night, he goes to a landmark from the book to find its corresponding letter.
Phoenix hides the book in a drawer of his desk in the attic. Mary's suspicions of Phoenix, encouraged by Feathers' accusation of him, leads her into his house where she investigates. Mary and Henry eventually find the mannequins and book in the attic before they discovered and forced to leave by Phoenix.
Phoenix stows away on the Kozlova Steam Train with the pop-up book, determined to play the notes on the organ and reveal the fortune. He is followed by Paddington, trying to reclaim the book and clear his name. The Browns soon arrive at the station, too late to catch the same train. Jonathan commandeers a train to follow the Kozlova Train.
Phoenix makes his way to the train car containing the organ and plays the notes, using the pop-up book for reference. After he has played the complete sequence, the organ opens up to reveal a hoard of jewellery and riches. Phoenix's eyes glitter with anticipation, but Paddington snatches the pop-up book from his hands. Pressing a wrong note, the organ closes, engulfing the treasure. Phoenix attempts to reopen the organ, but cannot remember the correct sequence without the assistance of the pop-up book.
After a while, Phoenix recaptures the pop-up book and moves to head back to the organ. Judy and Mr. Brown photograph Phoenix with the book then knock him out.
The pop-up book is later confiscated by the police as evidence for the case against Phoenix.
Role[]
In the film, the pop-up book may be categorised as a MacGuffin, as it is 'a mysterious package/artifact/superweapon that everyone in the story is chasing'.[1] However, the pop-up book is not Phoenix Buchanan's actual target, as he wants the pop-up book in order to find the Kozlova fortune, which he will use to fund his one-man show on the West End. Although it is not what Paddington wants, the fortune is still the enigmatic and valuable good that the characters are racing to find. Therefore, it would be more accurate to call the Kozlova fortune a MacGuffin.
Gallery[]
References[]
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