The Ladykillers (1955)

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writer:

William Rose (story)
(more)

Release Date:

24 February 1956 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Meet "The Unholy Five"...The Most Befuddled Set of Assorted Thugs That Ever Fouled Up a Million Dollar Bank Robbery!!

Plot:

Five diverse oddball criminal types planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.

Plot Keywords:

Octogenarian | Planning | Widow | Criminal | Bank Robbery

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Alec Guinness	...	Professor Marcus
Cecil Parker	...	Claude (a.k.a. 'Major Courtney')
Herbert Lom	...	Louis (a.k.a. 'Mr. Harvey')
Peter Sellers	...	Harry (a.k.a. 'Mr. Robinson')
Danny Green	...	One-Round (a.k.a. 'Mr. Lawson')
Jack Warner	...	The Superintendent
Katie Johnson	...	The Old Lady
Philip Stainton	...	The Sergeant
Frankie Howerd	...	The Barrow Boy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Madge Brindley	...	Large Lady (uncredited)
Hélène Burls	...	Hypatia (uncredited)
Kenneth Connor	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Michael Corcoran	...	Burglar (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Parcels Clerk (uncredited)
Fred Griffiths	...	Junk Man (uncredited)
Lucy Griffiths	...	Miss Pringle (uncredited)
Phoebe Hodgson	...	Constance (uncredited)
Vincent Holman	...	Station Master (uncredited)
Stratford Johns	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Evelyn Kerry	...	Amelia (uncredited)
Sam Kydd	...	Second Cab Driver (uncredited)
Edie Martin	...	Lettice (uncredited)
Jack Melford	...	Detective (uncredited)
Robert Moore	...	Constable (uncredited)
Arthur Mullard	...	(uncredited)
Ewan Roberts	...	Constable (uncredited)
George Roderick	...	Radio Car Policeman (uncredited)
John Rudling	...	Nervous Man (uncredited)
Leonard Sharp	...	Pavement Artist (uncredited)
Peter Williams	...	Detective at Parcels Office (uncredited)
Neil Wilson	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexander Mackendrick

Writing credits
William Rose		(story and screenplay)
Jimmy O'Connor		uncredited

Produced by
Seth Holt	....	associate producer
Michael Balcon	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Tristram Cary

Cinematography by
Otto Heller		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Harris

Art Direction by
Jim Morahan

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Alex Garfath	....	makeup artist
Daphne Martin	....	hair styles

Production Management
Hal Mason	....	production supervisor
David Peers	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Pevsner	....	assistant director
Michael Birkett	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
John Meadows	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
W. Simpson Robinson	....	scenic artist
Bert Davey	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Norman Dorme	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Jack Shampan	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stephen Dalby	....	sound supervisor (as Steven Dalby)
Gordon Stone	....	sound editor
Leo Wilkins	....	recordist
Harry Fairbairn	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
Don Wortham	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sydney Pearson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator (as Chick Waterson)
Alan Bryce	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Ray Parslow	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Herbert Smith	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Harry Aldous	....	assistant editor
Jim Clark	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Dock Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Joan Bridge	....	Technicolor colour consultant
Felicia Manheim	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Rank Organisation, The (presents) (as The Rank Organisation)
• Ealing Studios (as An Ealing Studios Michael Balcon Production)

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1955) (UK) (theatrical) (released through) (as J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors Limited)
• Continental Distributing (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Parvisfilmi (1956) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1969) (Finland) (TV) (1978) (1989) (2000) (TV1)
• Kamras Film Agency (1973) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1976) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1994) (Finland) (TV)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Studio Canal (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (StudioCanal Collection)

Other Companies

• Crest National  DVD (uncredited)
• Sinfonia of London  music played by (as the Sinfonia of London)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:G | Sweden:11 (re-release) (1975) | UK:U (video rating) (1989) (2002) (2006) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 (original rating) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Argyle Street, St. Pancras, London, England, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

When Alec Guinness was offered the part of Professor Marcus, he wrote to the producers to say "but this is meant for Alastair Sim surely". It is not known whether Sim auditioned for the part.

Goofs:

Continuity: On the night of the first music practice, when the major arrives at Miss Wilberforce's the sky is twilight behind him, then Mr. Lawson and Mr. Robinson arrive and the sky is almost pitch black, then Louis arrives and it's twilight again.

Quotes:

Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce:...May I ask you where you studied?
One-Round:...Well, I didn't really study any place, Lady... I just sort of... picked it up.
Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce:You know, I was so surprised when I heard what you were playing. It brought back something that, really, I'd completely forgotten all about: my 21st birthday party. You see, my father had engaged a string quintet to come in and play in the evening; and while they were playing Boccherini, someone came in and said the old queen had passed away. And everyone went home. And that was the end of my party, all that time ago, in Pangbourne.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Blood Simple. (1984)

Soundtrack:

Music

A real classic

Alec Guiness has to be one of the greatest actors of all time, and his role in The Lady Killers does not buck the trend. From the first moment I saw his dark shape looming through the doorway, I knew the character would be well creepy. And boy was it! With that horrible grin, those horrible teeth and that horrible laugh, it's little wonder that even the grim Herbert Lom starts to get a little freaked out.

Nevertheless, Katie Johnson as the infuriating Mrs Wilberforce almost succeeds in stealing the show. There cannot be a more annoying person in the world, from the point of view of policemen, criminals and baggage handlers alike.

The best scene of all, in my opinion, is the very last one, but I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen it. I haven't actually watched the re-make of the film, and I'm certainly a big Tom Hanks fan, but I think it must be hard-pressed to beat this hilarious original. 8 out of 10. Obviously, it's rather old-fashioned and might not appeal to everyone's sense of humour. Ko, Izzy.