The Ladykillers

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bob c Could be the greatest of all time (GOAT). My young self found it hilarious at the cinema and the current old boy still loved it. The usually brilliant Coen bros version wasn't a patch on it. None of the Ealing comedies lasted as well. Peerless and timeless. In a cameo, Frankie Howard lives forever. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/09/24 Full Review Alec B Like so many English comedies of this era it is delightfully offbeat and filled with gallows humor. Guinness' choice to do the movie mimicking Alister Sim was an inspired choice. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/24 Full Review isla s This is very much a mad caper type comedy crime film. I prefer it to the modern remake but thats not necessarily saying a lot, as the remake was pretty bad. I like the old lady, Mrs. Wilberforce, how oblivious she seems and the way the bungling burgulars rush around to try not to incriminate themselves. Its not seriously funny as such but its certainly fairly amusing and more warm and entertaining than the remake, so I'd recommend it on that basis. There are some aspects of the plot of this original film version that I don't recall seeing in the remake and it makes it a better film, I feel. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member LOL, the greatest 1.5 hours ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the better Ealing studios comedies about some hapless hitmen and bank robbers. Neat ending. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review matthew d Hysterically sinister and pleasantly chilling. Alexander Mackendrick's British crime black comedy The Ladykillers (1955) is the most proper English spoof on a crime caper you can imagine. Mackendrick's wiley direction is delightful in how focused he is on propelling the plot and establishing how all the crime antics must unfold. I was smiling the entire time watching The Ladykillers. It's a true classic comedy and parodies every mistake a crime drama could conjure. Mackendrick's fantastic direction is so playful and quaint that The Ladykillers is easily a comfortable movie watch for me. William Rose's legendary script has a joke in every line and feels so very British. His send up of English morals and beliefs through his too good elderly lady Mrs. Wilberforce is hilarious. Katie Johnson's performance is perfectly ignorant of what's really going on as she focuses on her neighborhood watching, parrot feeding, and police reporting all while offering tea is the most sincere British mannerisms you could fathom. Her loud parrots are cute with their dancing to the music and reacting to the scene. Each villain character is funny in how vile and soulless they all seem with their lack of ethics or morals, while also portraying a type of man who would take offense in being made to off an old lady. Alec Guinness is wickedly entertaining as the cunning criminal mastermind Professor Marcus, who plans a cash truck robbery at an old lady's home. Alex Garfath's make-up for Guinness is fabulous as he looks pale, gaunt, disheveled, and still fancy as the crazy Professor Marcus. Cecil Parker is fun as the nervous Major Courtenay with his excuses and paranoid misgivings. A young, handsome Herbert Lom plays the trigger happy Louis with his quick temper and lethal leanings. An equally youthful Peter Sellers is excellent as the panicky rebel youth Harry. Danny Green looks massive as One-Round with his insecurity over his dull wits and sincere attachment to Mrs. Wilberforce. Each of the leads is perfectly cast and plays their specific part with a whimsy and understanding of their unique role. I also liked the silly stuffy British attitude of Jack Warner's Superintendent and Philip Stainton's Sergeant. Jack Harris' editing feels so smooth, natural, and brisk that The Ladykillers' 91 minute run-time feels like 30. Otto Heller's cinematography playfully shows you the entire room and house, so you always know exactly where everyone is during this caper. Tristram Cary's score is neat with a whimsical fancy and a curious evil to his music. I liked all the classical music in it too from the records. Anthony Mendleson's costumes are super creepy and unnerving for the criminals with shady backgrounds and cozy for the other British people. Norman Dorme, Jack Shampan, and Tony Rimmington's set decoration is cute with antiques everywhere in Mrs. Wilberforce's home. In all, The Ladykillers will have you screaming with delight! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Ladykillers

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