The Ladykillers is a 1955 British black comedy crime film directed by Alexander Mackendrick for Ealing Studios. The film stars Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner, and Katie Johnson. The story revolves around five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery who rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow, Mrs. Wilberforce, played by Katie Johnson.
Plot
The plot of The Ladykillers (1955) revolves around a group of oddball criminals who plan a bank robbery and rent rooms from an elderly widow. The criminals, posing as a string quintet, encounter complications when the widow becomes suspicious. As the story unfolds, the men's initial plan is jeopardized, leading to comedic and disastrous consequences.
Trailer
Full Cast
- Alec Guinness as Professor Marcus
- Cecil Parker as Major Claude Courtney
- Herbert Lom as Louis Harvey
- Peter Sellers as Harry Robinson
- Danny Green as 'One-Round' Lawson
- Jack Warner as The Superintendent
- Katie Johnson as Louisa Alexandra Wilberforce
- Philip Stainton as The Sergeant
- Frankie Howerd as The Barrow Boy
- Fred Griffiths as The Junkman
- Kenneth Connor as The Cab Driver
- Sam Kydd as The Second Cab Driver
- Phoebe Hodgson as Old Lady
- Helene Burls as Hypatia
- Edie Martin as Lettice
- Evelyn Kerry as Amelia
- Neil Wilson as A Policeman
- Ewan Roberts as Constable In Police Station
- Michael Corcoran as Burglar
- Harold Goodwin as Left Luggage Clerk
- Jack Melford as Scotland Yard Man
- Robert Moore as Constable
- John Rudling as Nervous Man
- Madge Brindley as Large Lady
- Lucy Griffiths as Miss Pringle
- Leonard Sharp as Pavement Artist
Director: Alexander Mackendrick
Writer: William Rose
Box office gross: $1,000,000 in the United Kingdom
Distributor: Ealing Studios
Genre: Comedy and Crime
Release date: December 8, 1955, in the United Kingdom. The 2004 remake was released on March 26, 2004, in the United States.
Theme
The genre of The Ladykillers (1955) is a combination of comedy and crime. The film is known for its dark humor and is considered one of the best comedies produced by Ealing Studios, featuring an all-star cast of the finest comedy actors of the era.
Reception
The Ladykillers (1955) has been well-received, with a rating of 7.6 on IMDb, indicating positive feedback from audiences. The film is praised for its classic Ealing comedy, featuring a group of bank robbers struggling to silence an eccentric old lady who discovers their crime. The performances, particularly that of Katie Johnson, have been highlighted for their humor and talent. The dark humor and the cast's display of their usual talents have been noted as strong points of the film. Overall, the movie is regarded as brilliant and a classic example of Ealing comedy, with a unique and enduring appeal.
Production Challenges
The production of The Ladykillers faced a significant technical challenge due to its use of the Technicolor process, which used three rolls of film for every shot. This was a departure from the usual process, as most films at the time used copies of the original intermediate sources for home video releases. The film's director, Alexander Mackendrick, had previously worked on black and white films for Ealing Studios, and The Ladykillers was the last film he made for the studio before heading to Hollywood. The technical intricacies of the Technicolor process and the transition of the director to Hollywood marked notable aspects of the film's production.
Settings
The Ladykillers (1955) is set in London, England. The story unfolds in the bustling streets of London, with the criminals attempting to carry out their heist while navigating the challenges posed by the widow's bothersome habits and frequent visits to the police station to report her suspicions. The film's setting in London adds to its unique charm and humor, showcasing the city's vibrant atmosphere and the quirks of its residents.
Visual styles & techniques
The Ladykillers (1955) features a unique visual style and techniques that contribute to its dark humor and comedic elements. Some of the notable aspects of the film's visual style and techniques include:
Cartoon-like characters: Each character in the film is visually labeled with a distinct personality, such as "The Little Old Lady," "The Mad Professor," "The Genteel Con-Man," and "The Dumb Bruiser".
Comic-strip violence: The film's violence, which includes characters being pushed off buildings or banged over the head, has a comic-strip quality about it, with no blood or mangled limbs to disturb the joke.
Detached perspective: The film's director, Alexander Mackendrick, and screenwriter, William Rose, were semi-outsiders who adopted a detached view of the country they lived in, which is reflected in the film's visual style and humor.
Rickety, dilapidated setting: The film's setting in a rickety, dilapidated little house in St Pancras with its air of faded gentility adds to the film's unique charm and humor, showcasing the quirks of its residents and the city's atmosphere.
Trivia & fun facts
- The Ladykillers (1955) is considered one of the greatest comedy capers ever made.
- The film was directed by Alexander Mackendrick and written by William Rose.
- The film was produced by Ealing Studios, a British film production company.
- The film's cast includes Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner, and Katie Johnson.
- The film was shot in Technicolor, which was a significant technical challenge at the time.
- The film's violence has a comic-strip quality about it, with no blood or mangled limbs to disturb the joke.
- The film's setting in a rickety, dilapidated little house in St Pancras with its air of faded gentility adds to the film's unique charm and humor.
- The film's director and screenwriter were semi-outsiders who adopted a detached view of the country they lived in, which is reflected in the film's visual style and humor.
- The film's dramatic drive derives both moral and comic force from the way Katie Johnson's character, Mrs. Wilberforce, is both a victim and a catalyst for the criminals' downfall.
- The Ladykillers has been remade in 2004, starring Tom Hanks in the Alec Guinness role.