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.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 5 nominations total
- Large Lady
- (uncredited)
- Hypatia
- (uncredited)
- Bystander
- (uncredited)
- Cab Driver
- (uncredited)
- Burglar
- (uncredited)
- Burglar
- (uncredited)
- Detective
- (uncredited)
- Parcels Clerk
- (uncredited)
- Junk Man
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBecause 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.
- GoofsWhen 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 creditsDuring the opening credits, roses are shown, to highlight the fact that William Rose wrote the screenplay.
- SoundtracksMinuet in E major
(uncredited)
Written by Luigi Boccherini, arranged for string ensemble
[playing on the phonograph whenever the robbers are pretending to be practicing]
I cannot fault the cast, I regretted as a kid that I did not see Katie Johnson again (I know she made many other films, but I have never collided with them), whereas Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers were often featured on a Saturday Matinee.
I am, however, pleasantly surprised at how well this film is rated by IMDb! Of course I would give it high marks, but it is very interesting to see how many other people from other nations both 'get it' and appreciate it. It is perhaps, these days, just a gentle farce with black edges where naivety blends in with irony, and I am not claiming that it makes me LoL the whole time. But it is eminently watchable and re-watchable and I would never hesitate to recommend it; indeed those who do not like it would probably not 'get me' either!
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Ladykillers
- Filming locations
- Argyle Street, St. Pancras, London, England, UK(view down street from Mrs. Wilberforce's house)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $23,213
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,038
- Jun 6, 2021
- Gross worldwide
- $50,276
- Runtime1 hour 31 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1(original & intended ratio/open matte, theatrical release, director specification)