A pitch-black comedy from the Ealing team. To my shame, I'd never seen THE LADYKILLERS before now, but it's a story that has certainly stood the test of time and is much better than the maligned remake that came out a decade or so ago. The story, of five criminals who pull off a gold bullion robbery but who are then thwarted in their plans by the interventions of their well meaning elderly landlord, is perfectly written and memorable indeed.
Much of the running time seems to consist of various famous actors playing the most sinister folk imaginable. Alec Guinness's creepy old fellow is the most sinister of the bunch, of course, but it's Herbert Lom who really shines as the incredibly dark and murderous Louis. Watch out for a youthful Peter Sellers and cameos from a couple of future comedy greats, Kenneth Connor and Frankie Howerd, playing a cab driver and barrow boy respectively.
THE LADYKILLERS isn't really laugh out loud funny, but there are plenty of set-pieces guaranteed to raise a chuckle; the hunt for the escaping parrot is a personal favourite scene of mine, and of course the last half an hour marks the movie at its murderous best. The best thing about it? Katie Johnson's delightfully barmy old lady who acts as both lynchpin and catalyst of the whole thing...
Much of the running time seems to consist of various famous actors playing the most sinister folk imaginable. Alec Guinness's creepy old fellow is the most sinister of the bunch, of course, but it's Herbert Lom who really shines as the incredibly dark and murderous Louis. Watch out for a youthful Peter Sellers and cameos from a couple of future comedy greats, Kenneth Connor and Frankie Howerd, playing a cab driver and barrow boy respectively.
THE LADYKILLERS isn't really laugh out loud funny, but there are plenty of set-pieces guaranteed to raise a chuckle; the hunt for the escaping parrot is a personal favourite scene of mine, and of course the last half an hour marks the movie at its murderous best. The best thing about it? Katie Johnson's delightfully barmy old lady who acts as both lynchpin and catalyst of the whole thing...