Classic Film Review: Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Kind Hearts and Coronets stars Dennis Price as Louis, the distant heir to a dukedom who plots to murder the eight family members standing in his way. The film opens with Louis in prison writing his memoirs and we find out how the law caught up with him We also see his relationship with Sibella (Joan Greenwood) develop, his first love who disparages his pretensions and marries Lionel (John Penrose) instead, only to start an affair with Louis later, and the widow of one of his victims, Edith (Valerie Hobson), who he takes a real shine to and is more equal to him in station. What will be the cause of Louis's downfall?

This is a brilliant film. It's a softly satirical piece of comedy, no laugh out loud moments but utterly hilarious in its way. Dennis Price does a good job as the suave, disgruntled killer but the real star of this is Alec Guinness who plays eight members of the D'Ascoyne family including Lady Agatha. The most interesting of these is probably the vicar is probably the best, dithering and pondering as he shows Louis, dressed as a continental bishop, around the church. Each death is excellent, completely different to the one before and Louis pulls them off with aplomb.

Joan Greenwood as Sibilla certainly grows in prominence and personality throughout the film. From an ambitious young woman, she becomes a coy adulteress and, finally, a manipulator worthy of Louis himself. She is a nice foil to Edith who is desperately nice and far too good for the murderer. He and Sibilla certainly deserve each other.

The twist towards the end was very welcome and fitting. The final scene when Louis realises what he has forgotten is golden and it allows you to fill in your own conclusion. Ultimately, Kind Hearts and Coronets is a dark comedy about jealousy and revenge but it also serves as a reminder that sometimes it's the things you don't count on that bring you down - and that nothing is as dangerous as a woman scorned.

Classic Film Review: The Ladykillers (1955)

This Ealing Studios black comedy is about a group of robbers who pose as musicians to landlady, Mrs Wilberforce (Katie Johnson), while they pull off a job at Kings Cross. Their plan involves using Mrs Wilberforce to travel unknowingly with the stolen goods back to her house, foxing the police who would expect them to be taken straight out of the station by train. It's ingenious, really, but they underestimate the difficulty of working with Mrs Wilberforce. When she uncovers their plot she insists they turn themselves in - the gang know they have to act but who will get the job of keeping her quiet permanently?

The gang are 'Professor Marcus' (Alec Guinness), 'Major Courtney' (Cecil Parker), 'Mr Harvey' (Herbert Lom), 'Mr Robinson' (Peter Sellers) and 'Mr Lawson' (Danny Green). Guinness is perfect as the creepy and unnerving leader whose facial expressions are a cross between hilarious and horrific. I'm gaining quite a liking for Cecil Parker - this is the third film I've seen him in lately (the others being Indiscreet (1958) and The Admirable Crichton (1957)) - and this performance cemented it. The rest of the gang are perfect for their parts but I have to say that Katie Johnson absolutely steals the film. From her initial appearance at the police station to tell officers that her friend didn't see a spaceship after all, she is the focal point for the action. Forgetting her umbrella at the station during the transportation phase almost puts the gang's plan in jeopardy but it's her reaction when she sees a fruit seller (Frankie Howerd) trying to stop a horse eating his fruit which is the major problem - her indignation very nearly causes a riot as she attacks him with her umbrella. In addition to Mrs Wilberforce herself there are her three birds to add to the gang's problems. When General Gordon (parrot) flies off the gang have to pursue it onto the rooftop.

Mrs Wilberforce's decaying house is wonderfully portrayed. The pictures don't hang straight because of the subsidence and when you want water you have to bang on the pipe with a mallet first. Her living room is an excellent turn of the century abode and she fits in it perfectly. There is also an excellent use of music throughout the film - from both string recordings to the comic theft music that plagues the gang as they commit their robbery.

This is a dark comedy, make no mistake. If you're adverse to the kind of 'accidents' that happen on railway tracks then don't watch this but if you like your humour black then this one's for you.