The Ladykillers

As far as black comedies go, Ealing Studios’ 1955 classic THE LADYKILLERS ranks among the finest – with Alec Guinness in top form as a deranged criminal mastermind posing as a humble professor. However, it’s Katie Johnson as unassuming and charming old widow Mrs. Wilberforce who steals the show!

Right from the outset we know that Mrs. Wilberforce (K. Johnson) is a leftover from the era of Victorian righteousness, morals and principles – attitudes which are crumbling in 1950’s Britain just like her ‘lopsided’ gothic house built in a cul-de-sac and now situated over the entrance to a railway tunnel in London’s King’s Cross area. Widowed and living with her various parrots, Mrs. Wilberforce goes about her daily routine which involves frequently visiting the local police station, eager to report any strange activities in the area. The officers, who think the sweet old lady has possibly gone a bit doolally given her old age, politely play along with her latest tale of fancy whilst trying to supress fits of laughter. On her way back Mrs. Wilberforce checks with the convenience store owner whether anyone has inquired about her ad placed in the window looking for a person to rent her two upper rooms. Sure enough, just as she glances at her ad the threatening silhouette of a man wearing coat and hat appears in the window’s reflection and the music changes from innocent ice cream van ditty to more sinister tunes. A short while later the same silhouette can be seen hovering about Mrs. Wilberforce’s house before ringing the doorbell. Upon opening the door, the grimace of a dodgy looking character introducing himself as ‘Professor Marcus’ (A. Guinness) can be seen – immediately bamboozling the widow into believing he is a respectable character who wishes to rent the rooms so he may practice music with some of his friends. Things couldn’t be further from the truth because the ‘Professor’ is in fact an unscrupulous criminal who, together with his pals, is planning an audacious robbery involving a security van. Mrs. Wilberforce falls for the snake charmer and the following day his friends arrive one after another: bumbling con-man Major Courtney (Cecil Parker), Teddy boy Harry Robinson (Peter Sellers), dim-witted ex-boxer ‘One-Round’ Lawson (Danny Green) and vicious Continental gangster Louis Harvey (Herbert Lom). And so this motley crew of a string quintet apparently play away with the instruments they brought along. Little Mrs. Wilberforce can’t believe her luck to have such talented amateur musicians in her house though little does she know that Boccherini’s Minuet (a tune that will forever be associated with this film!) is played on the gramophone while Marcus and his mates are busy planning the robbery. The scenes during which the assembled men are constantly interrupted by our well-meaning hostess (who insists on bringing cake and tea) are downright hilarious, with more interruptions to follow.

On the day of the robbery everything seems to go to plan, well, initially. The plan is to carry the stolen money (hidden inside a big trunk) to the luggage reclaim section at King’s Cross rail station where the unassuming Mrs. Wilberforce is supposed to collect ‘Professor Marcus’ latest instruments sent from Cambridge… while he is out on business. Wilberforce falls for it hook, line and sinker and arranges for the trunk to be driven to her house via taxi. En route she creates further chaos when she witnesses barrow boy Frankie Howerd apparently mistreating a horse and all hell breaks loose. Finally back in the house the thieves soon bid their farewell, with the lolly now hidden in their various instrument cases. Unfortunately, dopey Lawson manages to get his cello case trapped in the front door. Just before Mrs. Wilberforce opens the door he pulls the case free, resulting in his part of the loot spilled all over the place. At the same time several of Wilberforce’s female friends arrive for tea, with one of the old ladies holding a newspaper informing of the robbery. Finally, a bewildered Mrs. Wilberforce puts two and two together but refuses to risk a scandal in her own house, what with all her friends present. Politely she asks Professor Marcus and his band of merry thieves to “behave like true gentlemen just once” while making it blatantly clear that she is going to inform the police once her guests have departed. The robbers have no other option than killing witness Wilberforce… however, no one wants to carry out the deed and so the men draw lots using matches…
Let’s just say the film’s final half hour is legendary, what with Mrs. Wilberforce outwitting everyone before the thieves turn on each other and thus seal their own demise… The climax is, of course, pure Ealing!

Katie Johnson (who was 77 at the time of filming!) deservedly won a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’. The film scored a further three BAFTAS: one for screenwriter William Rose, one for ‘Best British Film’, and one for ‘Best Film from any Source’.

To celebrate the film’s 65th Anniversary, LADYKILLERS is presented in a first ever 4K restoration with an array of Bonus Material including: 64-page booklet, ‘Those Glorious Ealing Films’ soundtrack CD, 6 Pop Art Cards, interviews, new documentaries incl. ‘Forever Ealing’ – narrated by Ealing Studios’ Michael Balcon’s grandson Daniel Day-Lewis, Kings Cross locations featurette, Peter Sellers spoof trailer and much more!