The Ladykillers (1955)

Director: Alexander Mackendrick

Starring: Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green & Katie Johnson

More Info: IMDB

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.

My Rating: 8/10

Would I watch it again? Yup

THE LADYKILLERS is nothing short of classic British comedy. Guinness proves once again his talent for comedy and completely hiding behind makeup, something his costar, Sellers, would strive for but not surpass. Guinness owns this category.


Katie Johnson as Mrs. Wilberforce is absolutely priceless as the clueless old lady that takes in the strange borders. She's a delight and perfect for the role. The supporting cast pulls together for a great bunch of misfit criminals. Lom is particularly sinister (Lom & Sellers would reunite 9 years later for the second Pink Panther film, A SHOT IN THE DARK).


But the biggest star of the film is most certainly Alec Guinness's choppers! WOW! One of the greatest props of all time. Despite the many flaws of the Coen Brothers 2004 remake, they did give Hanks a marvelous set of teeth and, for me, that was one thing they got right.



Back to 1955...it's 91 minutes of rib-tickling British fun with a nice little bank caper thrown in. This film is part of a 5 disc Alec Guinness box set where every movie is a winner with this one being the crown jewel.