The Ladykillers (1955)

In English comedy at its blackest (and funniest) pitch, this droll 1955 farce finds Alec Guinness in one of his typically deft, chameleon turns as would-be criminal mastermind Professor Marcus. When Marcus's grand plan to pull off a train heist leads him to a strategically situated house occupied by the genteel Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson), the ensuing masquerade triggers a mordant, even macabre comedy of manners. With Marcus and his rough-hewn cronies (Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, and Danny Green) posing as a string quartet, and the dear lady's demise seen as the means to their larcenous end, the gang's sinister machinations are consistently, if unwittingly, foiled by the good-hearted, resourceful widow. --Sam Sutherland Amazon.com

Absolutely perfect

Very few films achieve perfection but this one comes close to it. Alec Guiness as the leader of a band of dysfunctional robbers, is wonderful. I won't try to summarize the movie, that's been done enough already...but...Guiness rents a flat from a very nice, little old lady and tells her that he and his musician friends will be practicing a lot. In fact they are planning their grand heist.

The little old lady, who is ever so helpful, is constantly butting in to the increasing unhappiness of the gang. Ultimately, our boys decide that they will need to 'rub the old lady out'. Unfortunately, none of them really wants to be the hit man. Nevertheless, a killer is chosen but fails miserably and is ultimately killed himself. Guiness as gang leader grows increasingly neurotic with unbelievable facial ticks. Another killer is chosen but himself dies, leaving the old lady untouched. You've got it. The gang wipes itself out. You see, crime really doesn't pay.

By the way, this film is significantly better than the more recent film starring Tom Hanks of the same name.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico August 24, 2008

Right On, Mrs. Wilberforce

It's pretty well known in certain circles, like the ones I grew up in some time ago, that the British movie studio known as Ealing created a series of wonderful comedies in the 1950s. I can still remember the thrill of anticipation I had, as I scrunched down in my seat in the movie house, and the J. Arthur Rank living logo, that bare-chested, muscular, well-oiled man, who hit the great big dinner gong, came on the screen. And "The Ladykillers"(1955), quite a black comedy, has long been considered one of the best of the lot. It was made in Technicolor, the only one of the dozen comedies to be made in color. And, like many of the others, it was produced by Michael Balcom, directed by Alexander Mackendrick, and starred the young Alec Guinness. And the script that has stood up surprisingly well all these years was by William Rose. (The recent, 2004 remake by the Coen brothers was far less sophisticated.)

Guinness plays a man known to us only as Professor Marcus, a criminal mastermind. The actor has said he based his characterization on Alastair Sim, the popular, frequently-seen, Scottish-born character actor; and that he created it from a set of false teeth he wore, that gave him an extraordinary overbite. However Guinness got there, he certainly does remind this viewer of Sim. Anyway, Marcus is putting together a daring daylight train robbery in the heart of London, and has decided to plan it in rented rooms in the home of the 87-year old Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson), and, further, to use Mrs. Wilberforce as an unwitting accomplice. He and his posse are meeting in the annoyingly officious Mrs. Wilberforce's house, pretending to be amateur musicians practicing a Boccherini quintet. His posse is certainly made up of first-rate comedic actors. A very young Peter Sellers, in his screen debut, plays Harry, AKA Mr. Robinson. Herbert Lom plays Louis, AKA Mr. Harvey. Cecil Parker plays Claude, AKA Major Courtney. Danny Green plays One-Round, AKA Mr. Lawson. And Frankie Howerd shows up as the Barrow Boy. (Once upon a time, when this film was made, the English called men who aggressively sold goods from barrows Barrow Boys, and it wasn't particularly complimentary. Now, they call men who aggressively sell stocks in the City, and have made fortunes, Barrow Boys, and the implications are a lot more complimentary.)

As with almost all English films, particularly of this vintage, the action's slow; surely slow to American audiences. And not all the comedy bits have held up in the nearly 55 years since the film was made. There are also several puzzling lapses in continuity: one of Marcus's men smashes their Boccherini record, but it goes right on playing: at one point, it's playing while all the men, the supposed musicians, are out of the room. One of Mrs. Wilberforce's pet parrots, supposed to have been her late seaman husband's, apparently really had nautical experience: at one point, he's giving out an S.O.S. - and at another, he says "Alec Guinness."

Katie Johnson, who plays Mrs. Wilberforce, actually was quite elderly. Initially the film makers, who considered Mackendrick to be a demanding director, planned to give the part to a younger actress, but at the death of the younger woman, Johnson was cast. Her Mrs. Wilberforce at one point delivers a "Casablanca" homage: she is "shocked, shocked," she says, at what the men have planned in her house. She really is the unsung heroine of the movie; the heart of it, who holds it together, appearing in most scenes. You'd have to say the lack of respect given her, in the movie, and in real life, billing matters, etc., reflects the sexism and ageism of the time in filmmakers and actors. Furthermore, her heart's in the right place: she rubs up against Howerd's Barrow Boy in an attempt to stop his mistreatment of a horse. Right on, Mrs. Wilberforce; and you get yourself those dozen new umbrellas.

August 16, 2008

...humor of the finest kind

There is only one "The Ladykillers" and this is the British one from 1955 lensed by Alexander Mackendrick. It is definitely not the one remade in 2004 by Ethan and Joel Coen!

A charming and well worth watching criminal comedy of its best, with marker jokes, witty and imaginatively directed as well as brilliantly presented by Katie Johnson as Mrs. Wilberforce and Alec Guiness as professor Marcus. Especially the first half is full of ironic serving beautifully the comic of this first class movie. Although the 2nd part may not that speedy nor so full of pep the actors are covering this part generously by caricaturing the various characters extraordinarily well.

... a real jewel of classical, English gangster comedy about a cuddlesome grandma whom the gang found a hard nut to crack. June 29, 2008

Great old Movie -

If you like dry humor, great acting, and classic-type movies - you'll love this. I've watched it periodically for years and still love it. It is a one-of-a-kind!!!! I highly recommend it. June 13, 2008

The Ladykillers

This is the classic version - the "remake" stunk to high heaven. No one is better at this type of film than the British! They just know how to pick the right actors for the parts they play. This movie never gets old and is as funny today as when it was made. A totally enjoyable film experience for all ages. May 8, 2008

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