Kind Hearts and Coronets

This is an absolute dream of a movie, a great story, plenty of laughs, and some truly astounding performances, Dennis Price is superb as the lead, Sir Alec Guinness magical as the multiple roles. It's entertaining and funny from start to finish, taking you on an unexpectedly journey, with twists and turns, the best one of all, delivered right at the end. Joan Greenwood was captivating, her voice and looks filled the screen. Hard to believe this dates back to 1949, a truly sublime film. 10/10

This is revered as one of the Ealing greats. So I have to say whilst enjoying, applauding and admiring it; it didn't quite live up to the hype. It takes ages to get going, will bring a smile rather than a chuckle. Is it perhaps Guiness' acting that deserves the merit? "The Ladykillers" it is not.

I can't say I hated it, but I found it an extremely lame and tired attempt at wit. It tries so damned hard to be clever, but never succeeds. The biggest obstacle is the main character and the actor who plays him, Dennis Price. I can't think of a more boring protagonist in any film I've ever seen. He's so dull he almost put me to sleep. And the gimmick of multiple roles with Alec Guinness. It should have worked; I think Guinness could have done wonders with his eight parts. But no, his segments are so thinly written that all eight roles are imminently forgettable. I mean, the very funny picture of Guinness in a dress for the one female role he plays is completely squandered. Not only does Lady Agatha D'Ascoyne get a mere one minute on screen, she doesn't even get a single line! If it weren't enough that Alec Guinness is wasted eight times over, the wonderful Valerie Hobson is equally wasted. The sole performer who pulls off their role is Joan Greenwood, and even she's not great. I seriously cannot see how people find this movie worthwhile. 5/10.

I finally saw this "classic" and was hugely disappointed. The photography is excellent and some of the actors (Greenwood, Guinness, Price - in that order) are good, but there are two major problems. First, this is supposed to be a comedy but I smiled only once: when Louis, after several murders, reluctantly has to go hunting and tells the viewer that he disapproves of bloodsports because of his principles. Second, the story is just not interesting. This is mainly because there is not a single character whose fate I could care about. The victims are only caricatures, and Louis is such a bore that I soon kept hoping that they would hang him and get the film over with. This is not the first time a supposed Ealing classic has left me stone cold. I also found "Whisky Galore", "The Lavender Hill Mob" and "The Ladykillers" almost totally unfunny. I know that this could cause me to be refused to ever enter Britain again, but such is life.

Undoubtedly one of the most perfect, brilliant comedies ever, this movie is extremely fun and revels in its dark, clever humour. What can one say about a comedy centred around a dapper, charming, likable, impoverished young English gentleman who is at the same time an utterly remorseless, ever-calculating killer who has no qualms about killing an entire line of relatives who all stand in his path to inherit the family fortune? On top of that, he all the while takes great care in preserving his demeanor and status as a gentleman; all the relatives he must eliminate are brought to life by the genius of Alec Guinness; and there's an executioner who takes pains to show proper respect to his social "superior." The dialogue, indeed pretty much all of the humour, is a shining example of "British humour" at its best. It is subtle, clever, dark, and full of irony and satire. It is pure, brilliant entertainment that doesn't stop. Comedy really can't get much better than this.

Robert Hamer, the director of "Kind Hearts and Coronets", one of the better comedies to come out of the Ealing studios in the late forties, created a memorable film that still keeps enchanting, no matter how many times one has seen it. This is a film that like a vintage wine gets better with age. Of course, the right elements were put together in this venture under Mr. Hamer's direction, which is probably the best tribute one could say about the film. Louis Mazzini, the young man who should have inherited a noble title that is lost as her mother elopes with an Italian tenor and she is disinherited. Louis is determined to regain what's due to him, by whatever means possible. Things go well for him, but he commits a mistake in entering an illicit romance with the calculating Sibella, while at the same time falling in love with the radiant Edith D'Ascoyne, the young widow. Dennis Price gives a smart account of Louis Mazzini. He is a delight to watch as he keeps scratching off dead relatives from behind the picture frame. Alec Guinness portrays eight D'Ascoynes with an unusual panache. Best of all is Lady Agatha who encounters 'turbulence' while flying in a balloon. Valerie Hobson makes an impression with her Edith and Joan Greenwood is at her best as Sibella. This is a film to treasure.

I've seen this gem half a dozen times and look forward to seeing it a few times more. It's a masterpiece of unsentimental, yet genteel, humor, and features performances by some extraordinary actors. Sir Alec Guiness's eight different turns have been much commented on and deserve every superlative they've received. Dennis Price is too little recognized--in the US, at least--for his gifts, as his work here proves. Valerie Hobson is wonderful, and Joyce Greenwood is...I would happily buy a recording of her reading the OED, just to hear that astonishing voice. And, in a small but marvelous role, Miles Malleson is superb. If you have not seen this film, it's readily available. Give yourself a treat. I know that Hollywood seems to have forgotten that there's nothing to be gained by trying to remake a perfect film. If they ever dare to do it with this one--I don't give a damn who is in it, or who directs or writes--don't bother. See the original. None genuine without the Ealing Label.