The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers

The Ladykillers

1955
Movie
91 min
English

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.

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Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes95%
Metacritic82/100
Google Users93%
Director: Alexander MackendrickGenres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller

Plot Summary

A sweet old lady, Mrs. Wilberforce, living in a London boarding house, is unwittingly drawn into a criminal plot by a group of thieves who pose as amateur musicians. Led by the outwardly charming Professor Marcus, they use her house as a base for their heist. However, their elaborate plan begins to unravel due to Mrs. Wilberforce's persistent meddling and the criminals' own incompetence.

Critical Reception

The Ladykillers was a critical and commercial success, lauded for its dark humor, unique premise, and brilliant performances, particularly from Alec Guinness. It is widely considered one of Ealing Studios' finest comedies and a classic of British cinema.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its wickedly funny black comedy and memorable characters.
  • Celebrated for Alec Guinness's tour-de-force performance as the eccentric Professor Marcus.
  • Applauded for its clever screenplay and distinctive visual style.

Google audience: Viewers largely adore this Ealing comedy, highlighting its ingenious plot, the masterful performances of its cast, and the perfectly balanced blend of suspense and dark humor that makes it endlessly rewatchable.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. Received a BAFTA nomination for Best British Screenplay.

Fun Fact

The distinctive, lopsided house used in the film was a real house located at 14immungen Road, Outer London. It was demolished in 1959.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

A film of real quality! <em>'The Ladykillers'</em> is amusing viewing. It's style of comedy is very fitting of its era, but I only mean that positively as the slapstick is undoubtedly fun to watch unfold. The cast are all worthy of a men...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

I always felt that Herbert Lom had a wonderful face for comedy; and here I think he stands out alongside Cecil Parker - always underrated, but who could be relied upon to deliver a standard of comedy haplessness consistently well on screen....