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, died was killed off when it reached a peak in the 80s and it’s a crying shame. Apart from the odd exception (Shane Meadows for example) the few British films that are being made now are made with an American audience in mind and/or are heavily financed with American money.
Kind Hearts and Coronets is by far the best of the Ealing comedies. Everyone who loves the Ealing films raves about The Ladykillers. As much as I love The Ladykillers it doesn’t have the biting satire, subtlety and richness that Kind Hearts does. The Ladykillers is nearly as dark – both films have a body count that would put Quentin Tarantino to shame. But the characters in The Ladykillers are each a very broad caricature or stereotype (the spiv, the crusty old Colonel, the smart suited gangster, punch drunk boxer and so on) and it’s the one thing that has always really annoyed me about the film. But I won’t bash The Ladykillers. It may be over-rated but it’s still pretty excellent. So Kind Hearts has the edge for me. It’s very much darker than it’s given credit for – a comedy about a serial killer who, despite not getting away with it, you wish he had! It’s also got a lot to say about class distinction and the privileges of the upper classes. So, for example, when the ship’s captain stubbornly goes down with his ship he looks pompous and ridiculous – becoming a figure of fun instead of the usual stiff upper lipped heroic types British films of this period were inclined to give us time and again.
Both Alec Guinness and Denis Price were not only great actors but had superb comic-timing. Guinness was probably one of our greatest ever film actors. And he never sold out, starring in British film and TV right up to the end of his life. He was always a bit snooty about being remembered for playing Obi -Wan Kenobi but the important thing is that he is remembered fondly! And anyway he gave gravitas and screen presence to that character and that’s why the fans remember him. Will people say the same about Ewan McGregor?