THE LADYKILLERS (1955) C widescreen 96m dir: Alexander Mackendrick

w/Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner, Katie Johnson, Philip Stainton, Frankie Howerd, Fred Griffiths

Black comedy about a gang of cutthroats, headed by Guinness, who are undone by the sweet obtuseness of a sly little old lady (Johnson).

From The Movie Guide: "The last of the comedies produced by the Ealing Studios, and one of the finest, with a supremely dark tone which makes a climactic series of murders as hilarious as they are grotesque. ...

"THE LADYKILLERS was the last comedy produced by Ealing, which was in the process of closing down at the time of the film's release in 1955. Johnson, who was to die two years later, won a British Film Academy Award for her role. Shortly after the film's completion, director Mackendrick left England for the US, where he scored another triumph with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS."

For more information about Ealing Studios, consult FOREVER EALING.

THE LADYKILLERS was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (William Rose).