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    The Ladykillers

    • 19551955
    • Not RatedNot Rated
    • 1h 31min
    IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    27K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Danny Green, Katie Johnson, Cecil Parker, and Jack Warner in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Official Trailer
    Play trailer2:35
    2 Videos
    99+ Photos
    ComedyCrime

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

    IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    27K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Writers
      • William Rose(story)
      • Jimmy O'Connor(uncredited)
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Peter Sellers
      • Cecil Parker
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Writers
      • William Rose(story)
      • Jimmy O'Connor(uncredited)
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Peter Sellers
      • Cecil Parker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 157User reviews
    • 85Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Ladykillers
    Trailer 2:35
    The Ladykillers
    The Ladykillers - Rialto Pictures Trailer
    Trailer 1:30
    The Ladykillers - Rialto Pictures Trailer

    Photos103

    Alec Guinness, Herbert Lom, and Cecil Parker in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Danny Green, and Cecil Parker in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Alec Guinness, Katie Johnson, and Cecil Parker in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Alec Guinness in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Danny Green, Katie Johnson, and Cecil Parker in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Alec Guinness in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Katie Johnson in The Ladykillers (1955)
    The Ladykillers (1955)
    Peter Sellers and Danny Green in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Cecil Parker in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Herbert Lom in The Ladykillers (1955)
    Alec Guinness in The Ladykillers (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Professor Marcusas Professor Marcus
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Harry (a.k.a. 'Mr. Robinson')as Harry (a.k.a. 'Mr. Robinson')
    Cecil Parker
    Cecil Parker
    • Claude (a.k.a. 'Major Courtney')as Claude (a.k.a. 'Major Courtney')
    Herbert Lom
    Herbert Lom
    • Louis (a.k.a. 'Mr. Harvey')as Louis (a.k.a. 'Mr. Harvey')
    Danny Green
    Danny Green
    • One-Round (a.k.a. 'Mr. Lawson')as One-Round (a.k.a. 'Mr. Lawson')
    Jack Warner
    Jack Warner
    • The Superintendentas The Superintendent
    Katie Johnson
    Katie Johnson
    • The Old Lady - Mrs. Wilberforceas The Old Lady - Mrs. Wilberforce
    Philip Stainton
    • The Sergeantas The Sergeant
    Frankie Howerd
    Frankie Howerd
    • The Barrow Boyas The Barrow Boy
    Madge Brindley
    Madge Brindley
    • Large Ladyas Large Lady
    • (uncredited)
    Hélène Burls
    • Hypatiaas Hypatia
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Charters
    • Bystanderas Bystander
    • (uncredited)
    Kenneth Connor
    Kenneth Connor
    • Cab Driveras Cab Driver
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Corcoran
    • Burglaras Burglar
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Corcoran
    • Burglaras Burglar
    • (uncredited)
    Harold Goodwin
    Harold Goodwin
    • Parcels Clerkas Parcels Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Griffiths
    • Junk Manas Junk Man
    • (uncredited)
    Lucy Griffiths
    • Miss Pringleas Miss Pringle
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alexander Mackendrick
    • Writers
      • William Rose(story) (screenplay)
      • Jimmy O'Connor(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A gang planning a 'job' find themselves living with a little old lady, who thinks they are musicians. When the gang set out to kill Mrs Wilberforce, they run into one problem after another, and they get what they deserve. —Rob Hartill
    poetic justicebank robberyold ladystring quintetcaper78 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Meet "The Unholy Five"...The Most Befuddled Set of Assorted Thugs That Ever Fouled Up a Million Dollar Bank Robbery!!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The producers originally rejected director Alexander Mackendrick's choice of Katie Johnson for the role of Mrs. Wilberforce on the grounds that she might be too frail for the project, and so they cast a younger actress who died before filming began.
    • Goofs
      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: You're most kind, and if I may say so, you have a very curious and charming house. Such, um, pretty windows.

      Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce: Oh, thank you,

      [pointing to a window]

      Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce: And I rather favour positions...

      Professor Marcus: [interrupting] I always think the windows are the eyes of a house, and didn't someone say the eyes are the windows of the soul?

      Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce: I don't really know. Oh, it's such a charming thought, I do hope someone expressed it!

    • Crazy credits
      During the opening credits, roses are shown, to highlight the fact that William Rose wrote the screenplay.
    • Connections
      Featured in Tuesday's Documentary: The Ealing Comedies or Kind Hearts and Overdrafts (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      Minuet in E major
      (uncredited)

      Written by Luigi Boccherini, arranged for string ensemble

      [playing on the phonograph whenever the robbers are pretending to be practicing]

    User reviews157

    Review
    Top review
    Simply killer
    Mrs. Wilberforce, a senile old biddy living with her parrot in a ramshackle Victorian townhouse, is just sitting down to take her lonesome afternoon tea when she hears the bell ring. Rare occasion. She opens the door to reveal a striking-looking gentleman with lank hair and an air of indefinable loucheness. "Hello," he says, smiling graciously and instantly defining his loucheness -- his atrocious teeth. "I understand you have rooms to let."

    The prospective tenant is played by Alec Guinness, a long time before he attained the respectable old age that would make him such a convincing guru in Star Wars. Here he's in his lusty comedic prime, and from the moment he makes his unforgettable entrance, you know The Ladykillers is going to be a classic. Somehow, despite the silly cartoonishness of the story -- a meddlesome old lady foils the well-laid plans of a group of a bumbling bank robbers -- this is an ultra-sophisticated film. And despite the track record of director Alexander MacKendrick, despite the inspired performances he elicits from his cast, chief credit for its success must go to screenwriter William Rose. Most other comedies of the era, even those MacKendrick directed, suffer from forced repartee and obvious one-liners, making the viewer feel like an anchor is resting atop his head. Rose -- living up to his name -- has a lighter touch, reminiscent of the best comedies of recent years ( namely Rushmore. ) He invests each and every scene with a memorable hook, while at the same time forswearing even the least contrivance.

    For an example, take the scene where Mrs. Wilberforce confiscates the crooks' cello case full of "lolly" and stashes it in a locked closet. In almost any other movie, this emergency would be used as set-up, a new problem to solve, an excuse to pad the running time. In The Ladykillers, however, the crooks simply wait a few seconds until the old bat is gone, at which point one of them, the beefy one, rolls his eyes, raises his right arm, and negligently -- it's such a dainty little lock -- staves the closet in. Now that may not sound like much written here, it may not even sound very amusing, but when every scene in the movie boasts a similar surprise, the cumulative effect is exhilarating. Whether or not you enjoy the individual gags.

    For some reason, The Ladykillers is never screened, and written about even less. I can ALMOST understand the latter kind of neglect -- it's a hard movie to write about because, for all the talent and skill of its creators, it doesn't give you a lot to chew on. But while you're watching, it's an incomparable entertainment, one of those movies where every line of dialogue, every camera angle, every twist and turn in the story is felicitously, rapturously perfect. A true addiction.
    helpful•83
    10
    • Delly
    • May 7, 1999

    FAQ4

    • Is this based on a book?
    • How many ladies die?
    • Who actually dies?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 3, 1956 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ladykillers
    • Filming locations
      • Argyle Street, St. Pancras, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Ealing Studios
      • Michael Balcon Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,772
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,038
      • Jun 6, 2021
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,909
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1(original & intented ratio/open matte, theatrical release, director specification)

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