The Ladykillers Movie Review

Katie Johnson was WAY down on the cast list of most of the movies that she made, but in The Ladykillers, she was the star, and high time, too. She's absolutely terrific as Mrs. Wilberforce, a sweet little old lady who outwits a bunch of crooks who plan to murder her. Alec Guinness, looking his all-time seediest, was “Professor” Marcus, the leader of the gang; Cecil Parker WAS the “Major”; Herbert Lom was Louis; chubby Peter Sellers was Harry; and Danny Green was One-Round, who adores Mrs. Wilberforce on sight. They all pretend to be members of a string quintet so they can hole up in her place while figuring out what to do with the loot from a bank heist. The contrast between darling Mrs. Wilberforce and these thugs is hilarious, particularly as they try to fit into her genteel world with catastrophic results. Ealing at its all-time zenith! AKA: The Lady Killers.

1955 87m/C GB Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Katie Johnson, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner, Kenneth Connor, Edie Martin, Jack Melford; D: Alexander MacKendrick; W: William Rose; C: Otto Heller; M: Tristram Cary. British Academy Awards ‘55: Best Actress (Johnson), Best Screenplay. VHS