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:

Planning | Octogenarian | Widow | Criminal | 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)
Anthony John	...	Child (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)
Tony Rimmington	....	junior 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:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

Premiere voted this movie as one of "The 50 Greatest Comedies Of All Time" in 2006.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When the policeman calls at Mrs Wilberforce's house he introduces himself as "Sergeant McDonald"; at the end of the film the Inspector refers to the same character as "Sergeant Harris". In the credits he is simply listed as "Sergeant".

Quotes:

Professor Marcus:One-Round, there is a wheelbarrow outside, could you fetch it? The Major has a train to catch.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 50 Greatest Comedy Films (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Music

Brilliant. Absolutely Brilliant.

Where did they dig up Katie Johnson? How she balances the act of a sweet old lady who is respected yet still patronized with the toughness of a strong woman who upholds justice is a joy to watch. All the while completely unawares of the true danger surrounding her. Her performance is simply great and side-splittingly funny. The rest of the cast display their usual talents, particularly the fumbling of Cecil Parker and the mean looking Herbert Lom. It's also interesting to see a very young Peter Sellers who would soon hit his stride a few years later. The dark lighting and moody scenes are perfect for this comedy and are very typical of British films of the era, so the look is familiar right away as you begin to watch. The "Tea Party" scene is just a riot. Odd to see so many negative comments on the film - it's one of if not the best Ealing film and deservedly regarded as one the best comedies of all time. They just dont make them like this anymore.