IMDb RATING
8.0/10
37K
YOUR RATING
A distant poor relative of the Duke D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession.A distant poor relative of the Duke D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession.A distant poor relative of the Duke D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
37K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Roy Horniman(novel)
- Robert Hamer(screenplay)
- John Dighton(screenplay)
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- Roy Horniman(novel)
- Robert Hamer(screenplay)
- John Dighton(screenplay)
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 4 wins & 3 nominations total
Stanley Beard
- Warder
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Roy Horniman(novel)
- Robert Hamer(screenplay)
- John Dighton(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSir Alec Guinness nearly drowned in the scene where the Admiral goes down with his sinking ship. Guinness was held down by wires whilst the set filled up with water. Once the scene was wrapped, the crew started to leave, until one technician suddenly realized that they had forgotten to release Sir Alec from the wires holding him underwater. He immediately dove into the waters with some wire-cutters and freed Guinness. Fortunately for all concerned, Guinness took great pride in his ability to hold his breath for long periods of time.
- GoofsThe first murder that Louis Mazzini commits involves him swimming fully dressed underwater to release a boat from its moorings. In spite of having brought no change of clothes or even a towel, he is shown shortly after committing the murder paddling down the river with his clothes bone-dry.
- Quotes
Sibella: [sobs] Oh Louis! I don't want to marry Lionel!
Louis Mazzini: Why not?
Sibella: He's so dull.
Louis Mazzini: I must admit he exhibits the most extraordinary capacity for middle age that I've ever encountered in a young man of twenty-four.
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits list photos of the 4 leading actors with their character names; in the case of Alec Guinness, 8 photos of the 8 characters he plays are shown, along with the one character name of "The D'Ascoyne Family." In the end credits, the 8 character names are listed for him.
- Alternate versionsWas available in a computer colorized version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Film Profile: Michael Balcon (1961)
- SoundtracksThe Aria is
Il mio tesoro intanto"
from Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (uncredited)
The music is played by The Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Ernest Irving
Sung by an unidentified soloist
Review
Featured review
Brilliantly fun, dark humour and satire
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.
helpful•11918
- Wulfstan10
- Mar 23, 2005
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $35,948
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $8,004
- Dec 1, 2019
- Gross worldwide
- $145,583
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content

Top Gap
By what name was Kruunupäitä ja hyviä sydämiä (1949) officially released in India in English?
Answer





























