Director Robert Hamer’s fiendishly funny Kind Hearts and Coronets stands as one of Ealing Studios’ greatest triumphs, and one of the most wickedly black comedies ever made. Dennis Price is sublime as an embittered young commoner determined to avenge his mother’s unjust disinheritance by ascending to her family’s dukedom. Unfortunately, eight relatives, all played by the incomparable Alec Guinness, must be eliminated before he can do so. —The Criterion Collection
A former editor with a flair for both darkly satirical comedy and even darker British film noir, Robert Hamer was a key figure in postwar British cinema. His sensitive talent was probably best showcased in the handsome and witty period-set comedy of murders, “Kind Hearts and Coronets” (1949) and the realistic yet superbly moody noir “It Always Rains on Sunday” (1947). Hamer was also responsible for what some critics consider the best segment in the classic horror anthology, “Dead of Night” (1945), in which a haunted mirror keeps displaying a murder committed long ago, and which begins to take possession of its new owner. Among other films, the adult and complexly plotted “The Spider and the Fly” (1949) and the witty and civilized detective comedy “Father Brown” (1954) stand out. Unfortunately, Hamer’s highly promising career was derailed by an alcohol problem and he died at the age of 52. —TCM
Joan Greenwood and Dennis Price are the real stars of this film. As amusing as Guinness is, his performance(s) is more of a stunt.
Love this film! I think I appreciate its wit even more the second time around. I was inspired to watch it after seeing Alec Guinness in Star Wars.
I saw this many years ago as a teenager and had fond memories of it. Seeing it again recently, it occurred to me that the casting of Alex Guinness as all eight doomed relatives was little more than a joke. Now I can only see it as a precursor to all the bad Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry movies where they played multiple roles. Even the "twist" ending was a letdown, after seeing many films that do it better.
NOW YOU SEE IT I love the fact that Britain's two women directors in the 1950s were called Toye and Box. I also love the fact that Britain
The Ealing films, especially the comedies, are part of British film heritage -.from a time when we had a British Film industry! But British film, as an exciting and diverse force to be reckoned with… read review
Murder has never been this much fun. This along with Divorce, Italian Style and Dr. Strangelove are the greatest black comedies ever made. What makes this film special is not just Alec Guinness’s remarkable… read review
