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The Ladykillers
1955 91 min United Kingdom 12+
★8.2
Comedy, Crime
Director: Alexander Mackendrick
Trailers
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EN
Description
Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.
US Gross:
$23,213
Starring
Alec Guinness
Actor
Peter Sellers
Actor
Cecil Parker
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 1956
— Best British Actress
BAFTA 1956
— Best Screenplay for a British Film
BAFTA 1956
— Best British Film
Academy Awards 1957
— Best Original Screenplay
BAFTA 1956
— Best Picture
Key opinion
The Ladykillers is widely celebrated as a quintessential Ealing Studios classic that masterfully balances crime-thriller tension with sharp, distinctly British humor. Anchored by an impeccable cast and a witty, Oscar-nominated screenplay, the film remains an essential touchstone of 1950s genre-blending.
| Acting | The ensemble cast, featuring Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, and Herbert Lom, provides a charismatic and reliable anchor for the film's comedy. | |
| Screenplay | William Rose and Jim O'Connor's screenplay delivers a witty, tight narrative that effectively blends heist-thriller suspense with dry British humor. | |
| Production | The production design, particularly the detailed and immersive set of Mrs. Wilberforce’s home, grounds the film's eccentric premise in a tangible period reality. | |
| Acting | Alec Guinness's performance divides opinion, with some viewers viewing him as a master of the role while others prefer his co-stars or find him less of a standout. | |
| Pacing | The film’s tonal shift in the final half-hour sacrifices some of the earlier charm in favor of increased tension and darker crime elements. |