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The Ladykillers [VHS] [1955]
 
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The Ladykillers [VHS] [1955]

VHS ~ Alec Guinness
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Although you never really fear for Mrs "lop-sided" Wilberforce or General Gordon (her parrot) in The Ladykillers, the criminal gang who come to stay are clearly dangerous. Alec Guinness is extraordinary as the buck-toothed mastermind, and once the hijacked lolly is stowed in their digs it's a joy to watch him scheme to eliminate the other crooks and abscond with it all. Herbert Lom's thuggishness, Peter Seller's nervy twitching, and Danny Green's lumbering cloddishness are a treat, but are wickedly done away with one by one under cover of locomotive smoke plumes. So many set-pieces make this a classic: sending the landlady to collect the stolen money at the station, Frankie Howerd's boisterous fruit seller cameo, and keeping alive the idea that the gang's a musical troupe with a penchant for Boccherini and Haydn. Some inspired set design and camera work even add an expressionistic quality. --Paul Tonks


Synopsis

A classic Ealing comedy in which a little old lady takes in a sinister lodger then finds out he committed a robbery with four friends. When the villains realise she knows all they plot to kill her. But this little lady isn't quite as harmless as she seems...

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic Ealing Comedy, 17 Feb 2002
By A Customer
A top Ealing comedy, with genuinely dark moments.
Alec Guinness doing a sly Alistair Simm impression. Listen for the parrot squawking
"...---...SOS" as The Professor approaches the door! The 'gang' make an interesting set of stereotypes, with 'one-round', the simplest and least capable of rationalising, being most easily converted my Mrs Wilberforce's rectitude, and sweetly calling her Mum. Peter Sellers' teddyboy's panic-stricken cry as One-Round chases him is really dark. The characterisation of Mrs Wilberforce is wonderful. I have known such ladies.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Tea, buns and murder, 1 Dec 2005
By L. Davidson (Belfast, N.Ireland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
This review is from: The Ladykillers [DVD] [1955] (DVD)
"The Ladykillers" has stood up well to the ravages of time and although I have not seen the recent Hollywood remake , I am sure this original is much better. The film is sinister, atmospheric yet humourous; the criminal gang never really appear menacing despite their malevolent intentions towards their elderly landlady ,Mrs Wilberforce, with Alec Guinness playing the leading role as a criminal mastermind who,as part of his cunning plan,deliberately makes the old lady an unwitting accessory to a large robbery. I liked the film primarily because of it's unusual plot, rich characterisation and excellent acting. However the atmospheric locations also help to make "The Ladykillers" a memorable film ,especially Mrs Wilberforce's wonderful subsiding house perched high above a busy railway line. The presence of steam trains in the film is not only central to the plot ,but also helps to create a sense of motion, danger and uncertainty and adds significantly to the charm and attractiveness of this entertaining black comedy.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Ealing Comedy!, 29 Jul 2004
By no1filmaddict (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Ladykillers [DVD] [1955] (DVD)
You can tell just by looking at the front cover of this film with the five peculiar faces of the 'ladykillers' themelves, that its going to be a winner, and when you start watching it, this first thought is confirmed.

'The Ladykillers', a classic ealing comedy from the 1950's is basically about a old lady called Mrs Wilberforce, who's husband has died and she now lives with her parrot called General Gordon in a big old house in London. Then one day her advertisment in the local newsagents for a lodger is answered by Proffessor Marcus a very strange man who rents the room and asks if his music group can have their meetings their. Mrs Wilberforce who loves music agrees and soon the rest of the group arrive with their instrument cases. Like Proffessor Marcus they are a peculiar bunch however Mrs Wilberforce is just happy to have some company and so the group go off upstairs to play their music.

We soon realise that they are not a group of musicians at all and i guess most people had their supicions when they came through the door. In fact their real purpose in staying with Mrs Wilberforce is to plan a robbery which they carry out successfully, and send Mrs Wilberforce to go and collect the money from the train station so that it doesn't look at all suspicous. Eventually though, Mrs Wilberforce finds out what has happened and threatens to go to the police, and the gang realise that she has to be stopped draw straws on who is going to kill her....

The gang of criminals are a very sterotypical bunch; the big muscular one where its a shame he didn't have half as much brain as he does biceps; the smart crafty one who plans the whole thing; the devious one who is only in it for himself and will betray the other if he has to. You get the idea.

All the actors playing the five criminals were really on top form; Alec Guiness as Proffessor Marcus; Cecil Parker as Claude (a.k.a. Major Courtney); Herbert Lom as Louis (a.k.a. Mr. Harvey); Peter Sellers as Harry (a.k.a. Mr. Robinson); and Danny Green as the tough One-Round (a.k.a. Mr. Lawson). One-Round's nickname coming from the fact that no one every lasted one round in the ring with him.

Over time 'The Ladykillers' really has become a true classic and when you watch it you can see exactly why its still alive and just as funny today as it was back in 1955. A really funny film that will entertain everyone and make even the most serious people laugh, becuase believe me it really is that funny.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Understated
I'm sorry but to call this film 'droll' is like saying that the Titanic was 'pretty big'. The cast of British comedy greats seen here would cause a lesser film to buckle with the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Barney McGrew

5.0 out of 5 stars Lolly Pops

I recently purchased The Horse's Mouth (1958) from Amazon as well as "The Alec Guinness Collection" which includes The Ladykillers (1955) plus four others: Kind Hearts and... Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2005 by Robert Morris

5.0 out of 5 stars Fifty years old and still excellent
Ahh 'The Ladykillers'. Superb, quite easily one of my favourite films.

An excellently dark little tale, told with effortless style and fantastic acting. Read more

Published on 8 Mar 2005 by Stucumber

4.0 out of 5 stars Sir Alec Guinness as Renfield?
Before I see the 2004 version of THE LADYKILLERS starring Tom Hanks, I thought I'd better see the 1955 original. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2004 by Joseph Haschka

4.0 out of 5 stars lady killers
very funny and enjoyable would recormend it to anyone
Published on 30 Jun 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars A range of brilliant wit
The film is hilarious with its range of humour from dark to subtle and situation to over the top and bazaar. Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic
Young Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers star in a film I love. "I though 'e done 'er in" and "ignorance, in the eyes of the law, is no excuse" are great lines... Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2000

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