movie film review | chris tookey
 
     
     
 

Kind Hearts And Coronets


© Ealing Studios - all rights reserved
     
  Kind Hearts And Coronets Review
Tookey's Rating
10 /10
 
Average Rating
9.45 /10
 
Starring
Alec Guinness , Dennis Price , Valerie Hobson
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Directed by: Robert Hamer
Written by: Robert Hamer, John Dighton from Roy Horniman's novel Israel Rank

 
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Released: 1949
   
Genre: UNDERRATED
BLACK COMEDY
CRIME
COMEDY
   
Origin: GB
   
Colour: C
   
Length: 106
 
 


 

Serial killer (Dennis Price, pictured left) conducts one-man cull of the English aristocracy. Serves them right.

Reviewed by Chris Tookey


Most sophisticated and delightful of all British film comedies, and welcome proof that dialogue containing words of more than one syllable can have a place in the cinema. Dennis Price, Alec Guinness (pictured centre) and Joan Greenwood - in an outrageously sexy performance - all contribute greatly to the fun, which centres on that most gentlemanly of English sports, murder in pursuit of a title. On its release, the critics were only partially impressed. Since, it has rightly been elevated to classic status.
Robert Hamer (on his intentions): "Firstly, that of making a film not noticeably similar to any previously made in the English language. Secondly, that of using this English language, which I love, in a more varied and interesting way. Thirdly, that of making a picture which paid no regard whatever to established, although not practised, moral conventions."

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