I found "The Ladykillers" to be a mildly amusing 1950s British comedy, and not quite the laugh-out-loud riot that some other reviewers have suggested.
Mrs. Wilberforce is a somewhat dotty elderly widow who lives alone in a house at the end of a cul-de-sac near a train station. She's looking to rent out a room and is approached by "Professor Marcus" (Alec Guinness). He rents the room and explains that he's part of a quintet of musicians and would like to have the others over for practice.
The others arrive with their instruments and they pretend to practice in Professor Marcus' room (by playing a record) while actually plotting a heist at the train station.
Part of that plan relies on the kindness and gullibility of their host, Mrs Wilberforce. They plot to have her unknowingly collect and deliver the stolen goods back to her home. The gang would then split the cash and part ways with the widow.
All goes according to plan until Mrs. Wilberforce is on her way home with the loot and complications arise.
Then it all goes to Heck, and takes a rather dark turn at the end.
Y'know, in retrospect, I think I may have enjoyed the film a bit more if the visual effects and dubbing weren't so bad. You're already suspending disbelief because the plot elements really don't add up to anything remotely realistic; and when you see the painfully obvious background projections and poor sound dubbing it definitely takes you out of the moment.
Oh well, one and done!
Mrs. Wilberforce is a somewhat dotty elderly widow who lives alone in a house at the end of a cul-de-sac near a train station. She's looking to rent out a room and is approached by "Professor Marcus" (Alec Guinness). He rents the room and explains that he's part of a quintet of musicians and would like to have the others over for practice.
The others arrive with their instruments and they pretend to practice in Professor Marcus' room (by playing a record) while actually plotting a heist at the train station.
Part of that plan relies on the kindness and gullibility of their host, Mrs Wilberforce. They plot to have her unknowingly collect and deliver the stolen goods back to her home. The gang would then split the cash and part ways with the widow.
All goes according to plan until Mrs. Wilberforce is on her way home with the loot and complications arise.
Then it all goes to Heck, and takes a rather dark turn at the end.
Y'know, in retrospect, I think I may have enjoyed the film a bit more if the visual effects and dubbing weren't so bad. You're already suspending disbelief because the plot elements really don't add up to anything remotely realistic; and when you see the painfully obvious background projections and poor sound dubbing it definitely takes you out of the moment.
Oh well, one and done!