Film Snail

7.7

Kind Hearts and Coronets

NR·1949·104m

Comedy

Crime

Comedy

Crime

Summary

When his mother eloped with an Italian opera singer, Louis Mazzini was cut off from her aristocratic family. After the family refuses to let her be buried in the family mausoleum, Louis avenges his mother's death by attempting to murder every family member who stands between himself and the family fortune. But when he finds himself torn between his longtime love and the widow of one of his victims, his plans go awry.

Cast

Dennis Price

Louis Mazzini / His Father

Alec Guinness

The D'Ascoyne Family: The Duke / The Banker / The Parson / The General / The Admiral / Young Ascoyne / Young Henry / Lady Agatha

Joan Greenwood

Sibella

Valerie Hobson

Edith D'Ascoyne

Audrey Fildes

Mama

Miles Malleson

The Hangman

Clive Morton

The Prison Governor

John Penrose

Lionel Holland

Cecil Ramage

Crown Counsel

Hugh Griffith

Lord High Steward

John Salew

Mr. Perkins

Eric Messiter

Inspector Burgoyne

Lyn Evans

The Farmer

Barbara Leake

The Schoolmistress

Peggy Ann Clifford

Maud Redpole

Anne Valery

The Girl in the Punt

Arthur Lowe

The Reporter

Peter Gawthorne

First Lord Delivering Verdict (uncredited)

Molly Hamley-Clifford

Lady Redpole (uncredited)

Leslie Handford

Gamekeeper Hoskins (uncredited)

Cavan Malone

Young Graham (uncredited)

Jeremy Spenser

Young Louis (uncredited)

Carol White

Young Sibella (uncredited)

Laurence Naismith

Warder in Jail (uncredited)

Gordon Phillott

Clerk of Parliament (uncredited)

Richard Wattis

Defence Counsel (uncredited)

Harold Young

Captain (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Screenplay

Robert Hamer

Novel

Roy Horniman

Screenplay

John Dighton

Screenplay

Nancy Mitford

Reviews

nutshell

May 24, 2020

This is hands down my favorite Ealing Studios comedy, as I'm sure it is for many others. A most exquisite and brilliantly dark comic showcase, most especially for Dennis Price who is outstanding here in the lead role of Louis, and for some young actor named Alec Guinness who plays a whopping 8 roles in this film! In those early days the young Mr. Guinness was constantly challenging both himself, and his directors, in order to prove his capabilities. He had done just that the year before with his fabulous portrayal of Fagin in Oliver Twist, and that was only his 2nd movie! With this phenomenal 3rd piece of work, he silenced any critics that might still be left, going on to enjoy a tremendous career that would last nearly the rest of his life.