Read more
In this gangster comedy to end all gangster comedies, the inimitable Alec Guinness (Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill Mob) is Professor Marcus, ostensibly a musician and academic, who rents a London flat from a sweet old lady (BAFTA-winning Katie Johnson). He tells her that, from time to time, several other musicians will visit in order to rehearse. In truth, the professor can't play a note, nor can his visitors: he's a criminal mastermind, holding court over his gang of thieves, including the likes of punkish Harry (the first major film role for Peter Sellers, The Pink Panther), the homicidal Louis (Herbert Lom, A Shot in the Dark), veteran criminal Claude (Cecil Parker, The Man in the White Suit) and punch-drunk One-Round (Danny Green, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad). The gang use Professor Marcus's flat as headquarters as they conceive a daring 60,000-pound robbery in this killingly funny Ealing Studios classic directed by Alexander Mackendrick (Sweet Smell of Success) from a BAFTA-winning, Oscar-nominated script by William Rose (The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming). Co-Starring Jack Warner (It Always Rains on Sunday, The Quatermass Xperiment).
"one of the greatest comedies ever made!" - entertainment weekly
sir alec guinness gives one of his most unforgettable perfomances as professor marcus, the mastermind of a gang of vicious bank robbers who rent a room from elderly widow mrs. wilberforce (katie johnson, winner of the british academy award for best actress). but when the dear old woman begins to meddle in their "perfect crime", the crooks (including herbert lom and the legendary peter sellers in his first major sreen role) decide that she must be killed. now after a daring heist, a runaway parrot and several cups of tea, can the most diabolical criminals in london still manage to murder one sweet old lady?
directed by alexander mackendrick (the man in the white suit, sweet smell of success), this ealing studios masterpiece was nominated for an oscar for best screenplay and remains one of the most ruthlessly brilliant black comedies of all time. the alec guinness collection presents this screen legend's classic comedies including kind hearts and coronets, the lavender hill mob, the man in the white suit and the captain's paradise, all still considered to be among the greatest movie comedies ever made.
Peter Sellers