The Ladykillers

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

32K

YOUR RATING

Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Danny Green, Katie Johnson, Cecil Parker, and Jack Warner in The Ladykillers (1955)

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5 Videos

99+ Photos

Caper Dark Comedy Comedy Crime

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

32K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total

Large Lady
(uncredited)

Hélène Burls

Hypatia
(uncredited)

Jimmy Charters

Bystander
(uncredited)

Kenneth Connor

Cab Driver
(uncredited)

Michael Corcoran

Burglar
(uncredited)

Michael Corcoran

Burglar
(uncredited)

Arthur Dibbs

Detective
(uncredited)

Harold Goodwin

Parcels Clerk
(uncredited)

Fred Griffiths

Junk Man
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Because Katie Johnson (who played the old lady) was already 76 when she got the role, director Alexander Mackendrick went to the distributor and asked if her name could be prominently above the title, saying that this might be her last movie. The distributor agreed. Two years later, Johnson died. She only made one more movie.

Goofs
When the policeman calls at Mrs. Wilberforce's house, he introduces himself as "Sergeant McDonald". At the end of the film, the Inspector refers to the same character as "Sergeant Harris". In the credits he is simply listed as "Sergeant".

Quotes
Professor Marcus: You're most kind, and if I may say so, you have a very curious and charming house. Such, um, pretty windows.
Louisa Wilberforce: Oh, thank you,
Louisa Wilberforce: [pointing to a window] And I rather favour positions...
Professor Marcus: [interrupting] I always think the windows are the eyes of a house, and didn't someone say the eyes are the windows of the soul?
Louisa Wilberforce: I don't really know. Oh, it's such a charming thought, I do hope someone expressed it!

Crazy credits
During the opening credits, roses are shown, to highlight the fact that William Rose wrote the screenplay.

Connections
Featured in Tuesday's Documentary: The Ealing Comedies or Kind Hearts and Overdrafts (1970)

Soundtracks
Minuet in E major
(uncredited)
Written by Luigi Boccherini, arranged for string ensemble
[playing on the phonograph whenever the robbers are pretending to be practicing]

User reviews179

Review

Featured review

An all time classic that did NOT need a remake!

I was fortunate that Channel 4 in the UK showed this original classic film at the same time the new remake was about to hit the cinema screens. Many thanks therefore for providing two hours of classic cinema that showed clearly why Americans should not bother with naff remakes.

A classic ensemble of some of the UK's finest acting talent o the time pull of a heist in the centre of London but when their landlady finds out what they are up to, a bizarre sequence of events leads the gang to turn on each other in a brilliant and amusingly written, directed and produced film.

Whilst railway nostalgists will be wondering at the vintage footage of steam hauled trains coming out of St Pancras station and goods yard, others will be marvelling at the brilliant characterisations and script that makes this a timeless classic from Ealing studios.

And then the Americans decide on an Americanised remake WHY?!? Apparently we are promised [unnecessary] remakes of all of the Ealing comedy classics can't wait for the Titfield Thunderbolt to be remade with a Class 66 and a 4-VEP then!