Rent Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Ealing Comedy Classic - Kind Hearts and Coronets review by GI

This is possibly Ealing Studios most famous film and is a critics favourite even to the point of being described as 'the perfect film'. The Ealing Comedies are little treasures that do not get seen nearly enough by modern audiences and, as this one, they reveal a huge amount about Britain and in particular the class issues that drove society arguably still to this day! Set in the late 1800s the story is narrated by Louis (Dennis Price), the 10th Duke of Chalfont, who is in prison awaiting execution. His mother was a member of the aristocratic D'Ascoyne family but because she married for love was cast out and Louis grew up in poverty. As a young man he loses the love of his life to a more wealthy man and driven by hatred he vows to kill all the D'Ascoyne heirs leaving him to inherit the family title. The film charts his endeavours in this and it is, of course, famous for the eight heir victims all being played by Alec Guinness, who excels at the various eccentricities of the family. Whilst this is a mild comedy of manners rather than an out and out comedy like the Carry Ons it is the best example of condemnation of the class divided society and the ridiculous manners and obsession with wealth and breeding that puts society's acceptance over happiness. Wonderfully scripted and directed this is one of the finest of British films from the heyday of Britain's film industry and it is certainly a film every film fan should make sure they see.

Ealing Classic. - Kind Hearts and Coronets review by Steve

Groundbreaking black comedy which might as well be a definition of the word 'droll'. The film is usually remembered first for the eight performances by Alec Guinness as the various idiotic, aristocratic members of the D'Ascoyne family who a poor relation (Dennis Price) must kill in order to inherit their land and wealth.

Price's trademark plummy froideur makes him perfect casting. This is an incredibly literary film, with writing that is often poetic. Most of the script is Price's acerbic first person narration which is a masterpiece of irony and innuendo and creates a comical tension between what is said, and what is shown. Great final twist too.

Robert Hamer satirises both the aristocracy, and everyone else who defers to them. But there is something deeper. The film pulls together strands of understatement, absurdity and irony which we have come to regard as the English sense of humour. Often this is more whimsical than hilarious, but close attention is rewarded with some big laughs.

It constructs a Victorian facade of genteel privilege, which obscures an underlying misery. This is the best of the Ealing comedies, and one of the great British films. This is mostly because of the tone of the writing and the dry, deadpan performances. Guinness' garrulous but dimwitted vicar is my personal favourite.