The Ladykillers (1955)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Alexander Mackendrick

Writers:

William Rose (story)
William Rose (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

December 1955 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Meet "The Unholy Five"...The Most Befuddled Set of Assorted Thugs That Ever Fouled Up a Million Dollar Bank Robbery!!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Planning | Criminal | Octogenarian | Bank Robbery

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Alec Guinness	...	Professor Marcus
Cecil Parker	...	Claude (a.k.a. 'Major Courtney')
Herbert Lom	...	Louis (a.k.a. 'Mr. Harvey')
Peter Sellers	...	Harry (a.k.a. 'Mr. Robinson')
Danny Green	...	One-Round (a.k.a. 'Mr. Lawson')
Jack Warner	...	The Superintendent
Katie Johnson	...	The Old Lady
Philip Stainton	...	The Sergeant
Frankie Howerd	...	The Barrow Boy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Madge Brindley	...	Large Lady (uncredited)
Hélène Burls	...	Hypatia (uncredited)
Kenneth Connor	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Michael Corcoran	...	Burglar (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Parcels Clerk (uncredited)
Fred Griffiths	...	Junk Man (uncredited)
Lucy Griffiths	...	Miss Pringle (uncredited)
Phoebe Hodgson	...	Constance (uncredited)
Vincent Holman	...	Station Master (uncredited)
Stratford Johns	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Evelyn Kerry	...	Amelia (uncredited)
Sam Kydd	...	Second Cab Driver (uncredited)
Edie Martin	...	Lettice (uncredited)
Jack Melford	...	Detective (uncredited)
Robert Moore	...	Constable (uncredited)
Arthur Mullard	...	(uncredited)
Ewan Roberts	...	Constable (uncredited)
George Roderick	...	Radio Car Policeman (uncredited)
John Rudling	...	Nervous Man (uncredited)
Leonard Sharp	...	Pavement Artist (uncredited)
Peter Williams	...	Detective at Parcels Office (uncredited)
Neil Wilson	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexander Mackendrick

Writing credits
William Rose		(story)
William Rose		(screenplay)
Jimmy O'Connor		uncredited

Produced by
Seth Holt	....	associate producer
Michael Balcon	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Tristram Cary

Cinematography by
Otto Heller		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jack Harris

Art Direction by
Jim Morahan

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Alex Garfath	....	makeup artist
Daphne Martin	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Hal Mason	....	production supervisor
David Peers	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Pevsner	....	assistant director
Michael Birkett	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
John Meadows	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
W. Simpson Robinson	....	scenic artist
Bert Davey	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Jack Shampan	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stephen Dalby	....	sound supervisor (as Steven Dalby)
Gordon Stone	....	sound editor
Leo Wilkins	....	sound recordist
Harry Fairbairn	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
Don Wortham	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sydney Pearson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator (as Chick Waterson)
Alan Bryce	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Ray Parslow	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Herbert Smith	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Harry Aldous	....	assistant editor
Jim Clark	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Dock Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Joan Bridge	....	technicolor colour consultant
Felicia Manheim	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Ealing Studios (as An Ealing Studios Michael Balcon Production)

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1955) (UK) (theatrical) (released through)
• Continental Distributing (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Parvisfilmi (1956) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1969) (Finland) (TV) (1978) (1989) (2000) (TV1)
• Kamras Film Agency (1973) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1976) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1994) (Finland) (TV)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Studio Canal (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Crest National  DVD
• Sinfonia of London  music played by (as the Sinfonia of London)

Also Known As:

The Lady Killers

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:G | Sweden:11 (1975 re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 (original rating) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Argyle Street, St. Pancras, London, England, UK

Company:

Ealing Studios

Trivia:

Premiere voted this movie as one of "The 50 Greatest Comedies Of All Time" in 2006.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: From the street in front of Mrs. Wilberforce's house, the front of St. Pancras station is visible, placing the house south of the station. No tracks leave St. Pancras or the adjacent King's Cross station in that direction, so the house could not be adjacent to a tunnel as depicted (see trivia entry).

Quotes:

[Harry and Marcus are distracting Mrs. Wilberforce while Louis deals with the Major on the roof]
Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce: It won't do any harm to tell you now that Major Courtney has gone to the police. They'll be here shortly.
[there is a loud crash from outside]
Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce: Oh! Whatever is that?
Harry: I expect something fell off the roof, mum.
Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce: The roof?
Harry: Probably a... chimney-pot.
Mrs. Louisa Wilberforce: A chimney-pot?
Professor Marcus: See who it is, Harry
[pushes Harry out the door]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Music

A real classic

Alec Guiness has to be one of the greatest actors of all time, and his role in The Lady Killers does not buck the trend. From the first moment I saw his dark shape looming through the doorway, I knew the character would be well creepy. And boy was it! With that horrible grin, those horrible teeth and that horrible laugh, it's little wonder that even the grim Herbert Lom starts to get a little freaked out.

Nevertheless, Katie Johnson as the infuriating Mrs Wilberforce almost succeeds in stealing the show. There cannot be a more annoying person in the world, from the point of view of policemen, criminals and baggage handlers alike.

The best scene of all, in my opinion, is the very last one, but I won't spoil it for you if you haven't seen it. I haven't actually watched the re-make of the film, and I'm certainly a big Tom Hanks fan, but I think it must be hard-pressed to beat this hilarious original. 8 out of 10. Obviously, it's rather old-fashioned and might not appeal to everyone's sense of humour. Ko, Izzy.