Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 46min
- Comedy, Crime
- 14 Jun 1950 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Dennis Price | ... |
Louis
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| Valerie Hobson | ... |
Edith
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| Joan Greenwood | ... |
Sibella
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| Alec Guinness | ... |
The D'Ascoyne Family: The Duke / The Banker / The Parson / The General / The Admiral / Young Ascoyne / Young Henry / Lady Agatha
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| Audrey Fildes | ... |
Mama
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| Miles Malleson | ... |
The Hangman
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| Clive Morton | ... |
The Prison Governor
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| John Penrose | ... |
Lionel
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| Cecil Ramage | ... |
Crown Counsel
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| Hugh Griffith | ... |
Lord High Steward
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John Salew | ... |
Mr. Perkins
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| Eric Messiter | ... |
Burgoyne
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Lyn Evans | ... |
The Farmer
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| Barbara Leake | ... |
The Schoolmistress
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Peggy Ann Clifford | ... |
Maud
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Anne Valery | ... |
The Girl in the Punt
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| Arthur Lowe | ... |
The Reporter
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Stanley Beard | ... |
Warder (uncredited)
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Norman Fisher | ... |
Member of D'Ascoyne Household (uncredited)
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Maxwell Foster | ... |
Warder (uncredited)
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Peter Gawthorne | ... |
First Lord Delivering Verdict (uncredited)
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Molly Hamley-Clifford | ... |
Lady Redpole (uncredited)
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Leslie Handford | ... |
Gamekeeper Hoskins (uncredited)
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Nicholas Hill | ... |
Sergeant-at-Arms (uncredited)
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Fletcher Lightfoot | ... |
Peer of the Realm (uncredited)
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Cavan Malone | ... |
Young Graham (uncredited)
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| Laurence Naismith | ... |
Warder in Jail (uncredited)
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Gordon Phillott | ... |
Clerk of Parliament (uncredited)
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Harry Phipps | ... |
Lawyer (uncredited)
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| Jeremy Spenser | ... |
Young Louis (uncredited)
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Ivan Staff | ... |
Valuer (uncredited)
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| Richard Wattis | ... |
Defence Counsel (uncredited)
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| Carol White | ... |
Young Sibella (uncredited)
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George Wilson | ... |
Lord (uncredited)
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Harold Young | ... |
Captain (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Robert Hamer | ||
Written by
| Roy Horniman | ... | (novel) |
| Robert Hamer | ... | (screenplay) & |
| John Dighton | ... | (screenplay) |
| Nancy Mitford | ... | (screenplay revisions) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Michael Balcon | ... | producer |
| Michael Relph | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Ernest Irving | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Douglas Slocombe | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Peter Tanner | ||
Editorial Department
| Roy Baker | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Seth Holt | ... | assembly cutter (uncredited) |
| John Jympson | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Margaret Harper Nelson | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| William Kellner | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthony Mendleson | ||
Makeup Department
| Barbara Barnard | ... | hair stylist |
| Harry Frampton | ... | makeup artist |
| Pearl Orton | ... | hair stylist (as Pearl Gardner) |
| Ernest Taylor | ... | makeup artist |
| Daphne Martin | ... | assistant hair stylist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Leigh Aman | ... | unit production manager |
| Hal Mason | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Norman Priggen | ... | assistant director |
| John Hewlett | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
| David W. Orton | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Grace Bryan-Brown | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Bert Davey | ... | assistant art director (uncredited) |
| Norman Dorme | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Roger Hopkin | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Jack Shampan | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| V. Shaw | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| R. Thurgarland | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stephen Dalby | ... | sound supervisor |
| John W. Mitchell | ... | sound recordist (as John Mitchell) |
| Norman King | ... | chief sound engineer (uncredited) |
| Peter Musgrave | ... | assistant sound editor (uncredited) |
| A. Steadman | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
| Eric Stockl | ... | sound camera operator (uncredited) |
| Gordon Stone | ... | dubbing editor (uncredited) |
| Pat Wheeler | ... | assistant boom operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Geoffrey Dickinson | ... | special effects |
| Sydney Pearson | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jeff Seaholme | ... | camera operator |
| Jack Dooley | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Arthur Lemming | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Bob Penn | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| P. Pollock | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Ken Westbury | ... | clapper loader: second unit (uncredited) |
| Hugh Wilson | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Edith Crutchley | ... | wardrobe mistress (uncredited) |
| Ben Foster | ... | wardrobe master (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Ernest Irving | ... | conductor: The Philharmonia Orchestra |
| The Philharmonia Orchestra | ... | musicians: orchestra |
Script and Continuity Department
| Phyllis Crocker | ... | continuity |
| Susan Carbutt | ... | assistant continuity (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| J. Arthur Rank | ... | presenter (as J.Arthur Rank) |
| John Newnham | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Pat O'Connor | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- General Film Distributors (GFD) (1949) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (released through)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1949) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Eagle Lion Film (1950) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Eagle-Lion Film (1950) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Eagle-Lion Films (1950) (United States) (theatrical)
- Parvisfilmi (1950) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont (1950) (France) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors of Italy (1952) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Continental Distributing (United States) (theatrical) (reissue)
- Rank Film (1959) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Centrala Wynajmu Filmów (1961) (Poland) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors of Sweden (1961) (Sweden) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1966) (Finland) (tv)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV) (1970) (Finland) (tv)
- Taurus Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1989) (United States) (video)
- Image Entertainment (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Republic Pictures Home Video (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- StudioCanal (2004) (France) (DVD)
- StudioCanal (2006) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Spain (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
- Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
- DNC Home Entertainment (2009) (Italy) (DVD)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
- StudioCanal (2011) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Tamasa Distribution (2014) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Classic Films Distribución (2015) (Spain) (theatrical)
- A Contracorriente Films (2017) (Spain) (Blu-ray)
- Rialto Pictures (2019) (United States) (theatrical) (reissue)
- Arthaus (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Arthaus (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- StudioCanal (2019) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- RCA (sound system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In prison awaiting execution the next morning, Louis, the 10th Duke of Chalfont, puts down on paper the events that led him to his current situation. His mother has been banished from her family, the D'Ascoynes, after she married Louis' father, who was considered far beneath her. After her death, the D'Ascoynes refused permission for her to be buried in the family crypt. Louis then plots his revenge, and kills all those ahead of him in the succession until he becomes the Duke. Along the way, he becomes involved with the married Sibelia who, when spurned, makes sure he ends up in prison. The day before his execution, Sibelia recants her testimony, saving him not only from the gallows, but also sets him free. Once outside the prison however, he realizes he's forgotten one little thing. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | He chopped down the family tree... See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Sir 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. See more » |
| Goofs | The 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Michael Balcon (1961). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Il mio tesoro intanto See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The 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. See more » |
| 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. See more » |