The Ladykillers is a 1955 film directed by Alexander Mackendrick. The film is a British black comedy that follows a group of criminals who pose as a band of musicians to commit a heist, but things take an unexpected turn. 

Plot

The film revolves around Professor Marcus (played by Alec Guinness), a criminal who plans a heist at a house near a railway station. To carry out the heist, Marcus assembles a gang of criminals, each with a different specialization, including Louis (played by Herbert Lom), Harry (played by Peter Sellers), One-Round (played by Danny Green), and the elderly Major Courtney (played by Cecil Parker).

To cover their actions, the criminals pose as a band of musicians, establishing their operational base in the house of Mrs. Wilberforce (played by Katie Johnson), an elderly widow. Mrs. Wilberforce, unaware of her tenants' true intentions, becomes fond of them.

However, things take an unexpected turn when Mrs. Wilberforce discovers the truth about the gang and threatens to expose them to the authorities. The situation further complicates when the planned heist encounters various unforeseen obstacles.

The film is a black comedy that offers comedic situations and a series of twists and turns as the gang tries to keep their secret, and Mrs. Wilberforce does her best to thwart them. Alec Guinness delivers a memorable performance as Professor Marcus.

Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen

Writers: Joel and Ethan Coen

Producers: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Barry Sonnenfeld, and Tom Jacobson

Music: Carter Burwell

Cinematographer: Roger Deakins

Main Cast:

• Tom Hanks as Professor G.H. Dorr
• Irma P. Hall as Marva Munson
• Marlon Wayans as Gawain MacSam
• J.K. Simmons as Garth Pancake
• Tzi Ma as The General
• Ryan Hurst as Lump Hudson
• Diane Delano as Mountain Girl
• George Wallace as Sheriff Wyner
• Stephen Root as Fernand Gudge
• Jason Weaver as Weemack Funthes

Major Awards: The film did not win major Awards.

Box Office Gross: The film collected approximately $76,700,000 at the box office.

Critical Reception:  The film blends black comedy, thriller elements, and an outstanding cast led by Tom Hanks. Although it did not win major Awards, the film was appreciated by critics for its originality and the talent of the cast.

My Opinion: Well assorted in this film by the Coen brothers are the comic and the tragic, but there is mostly good humor here, even though it involves five deaths.

The story is about a professor (whether he is fake or not, we do not know, but the professor speaks forbiddingly) who hires four amateurs to rob the safe of a large arcade and who uses an old lady to disguise the shady dealings.

The film is entertaining enough, but at times suffers from a certain slowness and repetitiveness.

Very good all the actors and mainly Tom Hanks. Still good movie even if I would have expected something more.