Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949)

Hailing from the Golden-Age of Ealing comedies, KIND HEARTS & CORONETS stars DENNIS PRICE as the debonair yet impoverished Louis Mazzini, the would-be Duke of Chalfont whose mother was disinherited by her noble family, for marrying beneath her. When her dying wish to be buried in the family crypt is refused, Louis vows to avenge his mother and work his way up the family tree by engaging in the gentle art of murder. One by one he attempts to kill off the eight successors that stand in the way of his becoming Duke - all played by ALEC GUINESS in an unforgettable tour-de-force performance. Directed by ROBERT HAMER, KIND HEARTS & CORONETS also stars JOAN GREENWOOD as the husky-voiced siren Sibella and VALERIE HOBSON as the refined and virtuous Edith D'Ascoyne, both of whom threaten to distract Louis from his killing quest. A wonderfully entertaining combination of biting class satire, hilarious farce and pitch-black comedy, this story of a suave and elegant serial murderer is as sharp and funny today as ever.