Comments on: The Ladykillers (1955)

By: gar

gar — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:12:30 +0000

Watched on bamk holiday. I noticed Alec perform a hand gesture not dis-similar to a later Star Wars one.
‘You have nothing to worry about’ (to the actress) …
‘These are not the droids you are looking for (to the Imperial guard)
Could be wrong but worth looking out for (think it was 2/3 way through ealing film but not sure)

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:37:31 +0000

I think Hanks is essentially too benign for the role; Guinness has a lot more versatility, and as an Englishman, a certain innately mordant wit that works perfectly in this film.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:14:47 +0000

I haven’t seen this one, although this makes me want to find it now, but I did see the Coen brothers remake, to answer Stephen’s question, didn’t like it at all, and usually I like the Coen brothers comedies more than their dramas (liked True Grit BTW). One of the big hangups for me was that I just kept seeing Tom Hanks playing an eccentric character rather than seeing just the character without any further associations.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:57:52 +0000

Van – I, too, love the physical comedy. The sight of each pair of feet being held by two of the gang, is hilarious to me.

Stephen – I saw no reason to remake the film, and no reason to see it, just like you.

Rod – I was thinking of the darkness of this film as I wrote, but it didn’t really come across in the final review. I agree that there is a moodiness and madness inflecting the entire film, from the street that is going to seed to the offkilter house and its offkilter residents. We are definitely in Twilight Zone country here.

By: Stephen Gallagher

Stephen Gallagher — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:35:06 +0000

I get a lot of giddy pleasure from the sight of Alec Guinness channelling Alistair Sim… when actors of such craft and stature arise in Britain today they quickly start polishing their accents and then export themselves to Hollywood. Does anyone have a comment on the Coen brothers remake? LADYKILLERS is such a pitch-perfect piece of filmmaking that I could no more bring myself to look at it than I would a remake of SOME LIKE IT HOT.

By: Rod

Rod — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:26:33 +0000

I feel compelled to say that what makes this film, for me, actually, finally great is something that never gets mentioned in commentary on it: the deep undercurrent of genuine bizarreness that finally crystallizes when the Professor goes off his nut at the end. The film lurches there closer to something infernal and mad itself, and it perfectly caps what’s come before it.

By: Vanwall

Vanwall — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:36:32 +0000

A wonderful sly film, Ealing’s specialty. Johnson was the glue in this film, I cannot imagine anyone else in the role. I liked the subtle relentlessness of her part, like a good detective, which the police amply demonstrate is no qualification for being a copper. The gang members are acted perfectly, it’s a pleasure to watch the careful physical comedy, as well. Just the word Ealing makes me smile, anyway.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 01:54:23 +0000

As you know, this was supposed to be my 55/55 birthday party movie. I’m still a little pissed I couldn’t get a print. This cries to be seen on the big screen.

By: Greg Ferrara

Greg Ferrara — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 01:50:06 +0000

Put Katie Johnson on the short list! Or I will. I agree, she’s wonderful, as is this movie. I haven’t seen it in years but I have such fond memories of it. I’m going to watch it again.