The Ladykillers (1955)

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The Ladykillers (1955)

7/10

Starring

Katie Johnson

Alec Guinness

Cecil Parker

Herbert Lom

Peter Sellers

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick

Here is a movie I saw and I still can’t help laughing after the movie is over. I have practically told everyone close to me about the things that happened in this movie, mostly because I’m still finding it hard to believe the outcome of the movie.

I haven’t seen the 2004 remake of the same name starring Tom Hanks, much because of the reviews it got, but I still decided to see this 1955 original mostly because I was curious to see what made this movie get nominated for an Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay and win the BAFTA Award for Best British Screenplay.

When it comes to acting, I have to say Alec Guinness not Katie Johnson had my attention, I was just amazed by his character, then in the end the switch from an understanding individual to a full blooded thief, was amazing and the transition was also in a way thrilling/horrific in nature. That may not have been the plan of the director, but it was what I noticed.

The movie is a black comedy which tragic turns happen to be the most amusing aspect of the movie itself, based on the popular idea that there is no such thing as a full-proof plan, The Ladykillers screenplay is about five killers trying to get away with stolen money, but were being hindered by a naïve, sweet and eccentric old widow.

The movie’s plot starts by introducing this sweet widow, Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson) as someone you will want to afford as she is seen taking the police on regular wide goose chase. We get to meet the other main characters, who are a bunch of crooks led by Professor Marcus (Alec Guinness) who decided to use Mrs. Wilberforce naïve nature to commit what they thought will be the perfect robbery.

This was:

Commit an armed robbery stash the money in Mrs. Wilberforce trunk and have her move the trunk from the crime scene to her house where they would be waiting.

Everything went as smooth as it could be (with enough bumps if I may add) but in the end, everything fell apart when one for the crooks accidentally get’s his money seen by Mrs. Wilberforce. After the incident the groups is now left to contemplate how they can savage the situation and get away with their stolen loot.

This movie is funny and although I will not recommend it as a family movie, the movie is nice as a Sunday Matinee.