The Ladykillers

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.

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.

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.

LOL, the greatest 1.5 hours ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the better Ealing studios comedies about some hapless hitmen and bank robbers. Neat ending.

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!

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.

a sequence of slapstick accidents tired in a grim intrigue

Don't make the same mistake I did by watching the Coen Brothers' 2004 remake first; the Ealing Studios original is far more nuanced, but much of the enjoyment is ruined if you are constantly reminded of its over-the-top counterpart and what parallels may be drawn between them. In true classic British comedy fashion, the overt jokes are relatively few and far between, choosing instead to lampoon through tinier moments. Guinness really demonstrates his superb range here, with a character that seems to exude grease like carbon dioxide, and Sellers gives a relatively uncharacteristic (yet capable) performance that doesn't necessarily take advantage of his strengths in terms of physical comedy. It may not be entirely to modern tastes, but remains a classic. (3.5/5)

This ist still a very, very enjoyable film. Great pacing, hilarious story and perfect comedic timing - love it.