Ladykillers (Widescreen): Amazon.ca: Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Danny Green, Jack Warner, Katie Johnson, Philip Stainton, Frankie Howerd, Madge Brindley, H�l�ne Burls, Kenneth Connor, Otto Heller, Alexander Mackendrick, Jack Harris, Michael Balcon, Seth Holt, Jimmy O'Connor, William Rose: DVD

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In English comedy at its blackest (and funniest) pitch, this droll 1955 farce finds Alec Guinness in one of his typically deft, chameleon turns as would-be criminal mastermind Professor Marcus. When Marcus's grand plan to pull off a train heist leads him to a strategically situated house occupied by the genteel Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson), the ensuing masquerade triggers a mordant, even macabre comedy of manners. With Marcus and his rough-hewn cronies (Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, and Danny Green) posing as a string quartet, and the dear lady's demise seen as the means to their larcenous end, the gang's sinister machinations are consistently, if unwittingly, foiled by the good-hearted, resourceful widow. --Sam Sutherland

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Customer Reviews

32 Reviews

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars The little old Ladykillers, Aug 17 2007

By

Nolene-Patricia Dougan "Dougs" (Ravara, Ireland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Ladykillers (Widescreen) (DVD)

A gang of bank robbers pull off the perfect heist, only to be foiled by a little old lady. Not wanting to go to prison, they decide to kill her, but can these hardened criminals do it or will they turn on each other? Neither before nor since has any film combined such a balance of eerie atmosphere tempered with the charm of a bygone era. Comedy greats give wonderful performances, but are outclassed by the wonderful Katie Johnson.

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5.0 out of 5 stars 'Mrs. Lopsided' steals the show, Aug 21 2011

By

Kona (Emerald City) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Ladykillers (Widescreen) (DVD)

Professor Marcus (Alec Guiness) rents a room from kindly, old Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson). He tells her he's a musician as are his pals (including Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom) and they need a quiet place to rehearse their classical music. They are, however, a gang of robbers planning their next heist and they intend to use the old lady to pull off the job.

This dr�le 1955 black comedy is from the Ealing Studio. The heist is carried out despite the old lady's constant, well-intentioned, and funny interruptions, she gradually realizes her part in it, and justice prevails with lots of giggles. Guiness, sporting a large overbite and flyaway hair, is charmingly devious as the gang leader, but it is the inimitable Katie Johnson who steals the show. She's so likable and convincing, completely inhabiting the role of the befuddled, sweet landlady who is blithely unaware she is surrounded by criminals.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy classic British comedy.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Then there were none, Aug 3 2010

By

bernie "webviator" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Lady Killers [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

This is a cute comedy starring of course Alex Guinness and a few other memorable actors such as Peter Sellers, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, and Danny Green. It was interestingly pointed out to me that Alex's character Professor Marcus has a strikingly similar appearance of Alistair Sim. At first, you are caught up in the story and miss the entire inside jokes. Therefore, after watching the movie the first time be sure to look at the Blu-ray DVD extras and voiceovers that are supplied with the Blu-Ray version. Then watch the movie again and you will see all the marvelous things that they created that we missed that changes this movie from a three-star cute movie to an excellent production.

Some awfully strange and shifty characters rent a couple of rooms from what appears to be a ditzy old lady (Katie Johnson.) They pretend to be musicians each carrying their own instrument but when the chips are down the estimate that actually plays is the Victrola. Why are they there? We soon find out that they plan the perfect robbery and intend to include the innocent ditzy old lady as their patsy.

Of course, everything goes swimmingly well. Well maybe not that well as the robbery does not go as smoothly as planned and you think that some of the robbers will get apoplexy watching how close the money comes to being repossessed. Soon they realize that the ditzy old lady is not so ditzy and suspects their motives. Hence the title of the movie that could have been a play, "The Lady Killers."

Will they succeed?
Or will fait in the form of greed take a hand?

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Why the remake when this is so good?
Excellent movie, the British knew how to do it right. I love the Coen Brothers, but their remake of this comedy was lame, lame, lame!

Published on Sep 12 2004 by Kilgore

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch this, not the remake!
Alec Guinness is terrific here as the simpering, creepy criminal who uses a string quartet as a front for a huge theft. Read more

Published on July 19 2004 by ShamayimBlue