Kind Hearts and Coronets

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Luke S Apr 10, 2019 This is now the second time I have seen Kind hearts and coronets and I can gladly say that it was even more enjoyable. Kind hearts and coronets is a Ealing studios film directed by Robert Hamer. The film stars Alec Guinness as many characters, but his biggest role was Young Ascoyne the main character of the film. The cast I thought did a really good job, but Alec Guinness was exemplary playing more then one character extremely well especially his portrayal of Young Ascoyne. The characters were done really well and enjoyable to watch. I really liked how Alec Guinness's characters all had different personality's which really helped with the atmosphere of the film. The cinematography was very good and fit very nicely with the style of the film. The set design and props really put you into the movie from the building designs to the various sets. The costume design fits perfectly with the era and helps with the atmosphere of the film. The style of the film I personally really like from the way the characters act to the comedy of the film. The action in the film though not much is still done very well from using Bombs in food to using poison in a drink. The dialogue is also very good from the eloquent delivery to the very well written script. The film also has some music, but most of it is only played for a short while and is mostly played in the background. The story follows a young boy Ascoyne who's mother a member of a family of dukes dies wanting to be buried in the family vault, but the family won't allow it since she married someone they thought beneath them. So to get his mother buried in the family vault he seeks out to kill the rest of his family to become duke. The comedy in my opinion works really well from the subtle comedy to the front and centre comedy. The film also has a really good atmosphere especially toward the end. The film in my opinion is also really enjoyable and one that I will be watching again very soon. The film does have maybe one or two mistakes, but they don't take away that much. Over all I give it a 9/10 - one of the best See more

Leia M Mar 20, 2019 In a devious sort of way, this 1949 classic caper captures a very specific, yet intoxicating sort of nihilistic satisfaction in a bottle. As the audience watches the undeniably warped protagonist commit all of these crimes in the name of his own vengeance against the nobles-that-be, we definitely feel that what he's doing is wrong. But we're still undoubtedly fascinated to see where things will go. Indeed, more contemporary works like "Nightcrawler," "There Will Be Blood," "House Of Cards," and even "Taxi Driver" owe a certain amount of credit to how well things worked out for a narrative with this kind of audacity back in the day. Every plot element in "Kind Hearts And Coronets" is intricately laid out, with real intention emanating from the events as they unfold. I only wish the film's admittedly intermittent tone of sardonicism was as consistently impressive as the plotting work. Overall though, a fairly successful tale of depravity and duplicity. See more

Draco G Aug 12, 2018 SO much about this film to love, and, old as it is, the artfulness, skill and wit still shine. I've watched it three or four times now, andd there were still details to discover anew. Very English, and wonderfully so. See more

Han S Aug 31, 2017 Classic 'Ealing' comedy from 1949. Now I think of comedy as telling jokes, pulling a face etc..however this film is not an example of that at all. My first foray into the films that were shot post war at the old Ealing Studios in London, U.K. that became known as Ealing comedies. It is more a black comedy. Showing humour such as the screenplay itself. The screenplay is about a rich, aristocratic family called D'Ascoyne's. The family has a noble title producing the Lord Chalfont. The family have a black sheep as such caused by one of the members having a relationship and producing a son with an Italian. The said black sheep of the family, a female branch and the son Louis Mazzini (Vincent Price) live in relative London suburbia poverty well away from the trappings of aristocracy. In later life Louis becomes bitter and vows revenge on the family who have disowned him and stand in the way of the dukedom. All eight members! Hence a series of murders occurs as Louis becomes ever closer to being ancestor to the Lord Chalfont title. I didn't realise until watching the film that all those eight members of both genders are brilliantly portrayed by Alex Guiness. A far cry from some of his roles in later life! The film is a delight and the old black and white photography a triumph that adds to the class of the film. On further reading the Director of Photography is Douglas Slocombe who I recognise from Carry On films to Indiana Jones blockbusters. Surprisingly good first foray into the Ealing comedy. See more

Theodore M Jun 6, 2017 In the hours before his execution for murder, Louis, the 10th Duke of Chalfont, writes his memoirs. In them he details how, though descended from nobility, he grew up poor and had to pull himself up by his bootstraps, career-wise. Then, discovering that only eight members of the D'Ascoyne family stood between him and the dukedom, he systematically started killing them, making the murders look like accidents. Interesting, intriguing crime drama, with a dry, dark humour about it. The whole sequence of events leading up to and including Louis knocking off the claimants to the dukedom makes for compelling viewing. Quirkily funny at times too. More than just a crime drama, the movie also pokes fun at England's class and peerage system. You can well imagine that someone would go to such lengths for a title and the wealth and other benefits it bestows. Solid work by Dennis Price as Louis. Standout performance(s), however, goes to Alec Guiness who plays all eight members of the D'Ascoyne family! Good support from Valerie Hobson and Joan Greenwood. See more

Hermione R Apr 12, 2017 What started out as a seemingly boring and slow movie, quickly turned into a very interesting and original movie plot. I'd never seen anything quite like this. Cynical and humorous to a tee. You can even say this is dark humor. To see the main character commit these crimes with such composure and patience, as if he we're taking the whole course of actions so nonchalantly, was something almost very eerie to watch. This movie is so brilliantly written. The way the deaths take place and seeing how dark and passionate Louis was about avenging his dead mother was a striking thing to see. And let me tell you, what an ending! To see that the pages he'd written all along we're still sitting on the desk inside the prison was a complete shock that made me scream out loud in laughter. Overall, this movie was absolutely brilliant and the acting was superb. I like to think that he was able to go back into the prison and retrieve the pages. Then after that, he would retreat with Edith and kill off Sibella. After all, Edith, to me, is way more prettier and more lovely than Sibella. She is more pure than Sibella. Where as Sibella cheated on her husband during her marriage and loathed to be with him, Edith was loyal. See more

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Kind Hearts and Coronets

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