Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Director:

Robert Hamer

Writers:

Roy Horniman (novel)
Robert Hamer (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 June 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A hilarious study in the gentle art of murder.

Plot:

A distant poor relative of the Duke of D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession.

Plot Keywords:

Bow And Arrow | Inheritance | Reprieve | Narration | Warden

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Dennis Price	...	Louis
Valerie Hobson	...	Edith
Joan Greenwood	...	Sibella
Alec Guinness	...	The Duke / The Banker / The Parson / The General / The Admiral / Young Ascoyne / Young Henry / Lady Agatha
Audrey Fildes	...	Mama
Miles Malleson	...	The Hangman
Clive Morton	...	The Prison Governor
John Penrose	...	Lionel
Cecil Ramage	...	Crown Counsel
Hugh Griffith	...	Lord High Steward
John Salew	...	Mr. Perkins
Eric Messiter	...	Burgoyne
Lyn Evans	...	The Farmer
Barbara Leake	...	The Schoolmistress
Peggy Ann Clifford	...	Maud
Anne Valery	...	The Girl in the punt
Arthur Lowe	...	The Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Beard	...	Warder (uncredited)
Maxwell Foster	...	Warder (uncredited)
Peter Gawthorne	...	First Lord Delivering Verdict (uncredited)
Molly Hamley-Clifford	...	Lady Redpole (uncredited)
Leslie Handford	...	Gamekeeper Hoskins (uncredited)
Nicholas Hill	...	Sergeant-at-arms (uncredited)
Fletcher Lightfoot	...	Peer of the Realm (uncredited)
Cavan Malone	...	Young Graham (uncredited)
Laurence Naismith	...	Warder in Jail (uncredited)
Gordon Phillott	...	Clerk of Parliament (uncredited)
Jeremy Spenser	...	Young Louis (uncredited)
Ivan Staff	...	Valuer (uncredited)
Richard Wattis	...	Defence Counsel (uncredited)
Carol White	...	Young Sibella (uncredited)
Harold Young	...	Captain (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Hamer

Writing credits
Roy Horniman		(novel "Kind Hearts and Coronets")
Robert Hamer		(screenplay) &
John Dighton		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Balcon	....	producer
Michael Relph	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Ernest Irving		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Tanner

Art Direction by
William Kellner

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Barbara Barnard	....	hair stylist
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist
Pearl Gardner	....	hair stylist
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
David W. Orton	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Bert Davey	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Norman Dorme	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Jack Shampan	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stephen Dalby	....	sound supervisor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Gordon Stone	....	dubbing editor (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)
Bob Penn	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Hugh Wilson	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Roy Baker	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Seth Holt	....	assembly cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Ernest Irving	....	conductor

Other crew
Phyllis Crocker	....	continuity
J. Arthur Rank	....	presenter (as J.Arthur Rank)

Production Companies

• Ealing Studios

Distributors

• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1949) (UK) (theatrical)
• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1949) (UK) (theatrical)
• Eagle-Lion Films (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Société des Etablissements L. Gaumont (1950) (France) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1976) (USA) (TV)
• Thorn EMI Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Studio Canal (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Studio Canal (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV) (1970) (Finland) (TV)
• Parvisfilmi (1950) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• YLE Teema (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1966) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Crest National  DVD coding
• Philharmonia Orchestra, The  music played by

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-16 | UK:U (video rating) | UK:A (original rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Ealing Studios

Trivia:

Novelists Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh were hired independently to work on various drafts of the script, though apparently none of their contributions survived in the film as shot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Warder in Jail: Good evening, Mr. Elliot.
The Hangman: Good evening.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Red Dwarf: Launching 'Red Dwarf' (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Il mio tesoro intanto

Bravura performance from Alec Guiness. Superb Dennis Price

Possibly the best British film ever made. A superb performance from the much under-rated (even by himself) Dennis Price. How sad that this was to be one of his only truly great performances, but what a fantastic film to be remembered for. Whilst Alec Guiness has received deserved praise over the years for his clever portrayal of all the members of the noble d'Ascoigne family, in my opinion the film belongs to Dennis Price. The support from the two leading ladies is also something to treasure. I just love the sultry-voiced Joan Greenwood as the delightfully selfish Sybella. If you have never seen this film, WHY NOT?