The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)

He stole $3,000,000 in gold and that's a lot of BULLion!
alt: The men who BROKE the bank - and LOST the cargo.

Directed by: Charles Crichton
Written by: T.E.B. Clarke
Starring: Alec Guinness as Henry "Dutch" Holland, Stanley Holloway as Alfred Pendlebury, Sid James as Lackery, and Alfie Bass as Shortie Fisher
Music by: Georges Auric

This is just another example of the comedic largesse of Alec Guinness. He plays Henry Holland, a mild and meek bank clerk who supervises the transportation of gold buillion and dreams of stealing it and running off to live the life of adventure. His only problem is how to get it out of the country - easily solved when Holland meets the owner of a foundry, Alfred Pendlebury. They whip up a plan in less than a week when Holland finds out he is about to be transferred. Together, they con two seasoned crooks into helping them steal the contents of the truck - although immediately things begin to go wrong. And things go even more haywire when some of the gold (now in the shape of Eiffel Tower paperweights) is lost and falls into the hands of the British police.

There were several points in this film where I thought, "this is absolutely ridiculous!" The men find themselves in and out of trouble so many times it's amazing they got as far as they did. And all of their capers are not through any mistake of theirs! Holloway plays the perfect foil to Guinness - one being meek and exacting, the other bumbling and loudmouthed but well-meaning. It was very reminiscent of a Laurel and Hardy comedy (but with a more developed plotline). And Audrey Hepburn makes an appearance early in the film as Chiquita - this was her first film to be distributed in the US. She was one of Guinness's favorite actresses.

Overall, I would highly recommend this comedy, as it highlights the wonderful talents of both Holland and Guinness in the roles of well-meaning thieves. And watch for my favorite scene - with the bobby officer singing "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" at the top of his lungs (complete with animal sounds!) I give this one four golden eiffel tower paperweights out of a possible five. (4/5)

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

A hilarious study in the gentle art of murder.


Directed by: Robert Hamer
Written by: Roy Horniman (novel), John Dighton, Robert Hamer
Starring: Dennis Price as Louis Mazzini, Valerie Hobson as Edith D'Ascoyne, Joan Greenwood as Sibella, and Alec Guinness as The Duke, The Banker, The Parson, The General, The Admiral, young Ascoyne D'Ascoyne, young Henry D'Ascoyne, Lady Agatha D'Ascoyne
Music by: a variety of Classical composers

If you've never seen Alec Guinness as anything but Obi Wan Kenobi, I strongly suggest you start looking at his earlier works. Nowadays, it seems a shame that most know him as the enigmatic proverb-spewing, force wielding Jedi knight, when in actuality, he's a former king of comedy. While he doesn't play the main character in this film, he might as well - considering he plays eight other characters all belonging to the same family and all killed by the main character in hilarious ways.

The premise of this film is very gruesome - a young man with a far reaching claim to a dukedom feels spurned by the noble family he descends from, especially after his mother dies and is refused internment in the family vault. He decides to get revenge and claim the title of the Duke of Chalfont. Eight of his relatives stand in his way, as well as the problem of juggling relationships with two women who want to marry him.

His attitude towards the deaths of his family members is detached and non-chalant - the perfect portrait of a serial killer psychopath. And Price plays Louis perfectly, casually discussing the particulars of poisoning, drowning, shooting, and otherwise knocking off the people in his way. He also manages to fit every role he attempts - whether it's a clergyman or a clerk. And as much as you're disgusted by Louis, you're rooting for him by the end. He's taken advantage of just as much as he takes advantage of others.

The comedy in this movie is undeniable. Louis's attitude provides plenty of humor, as does Sibella's sickeningly sweet antics towards him. And needless to say, Guinness is incredible in his eight different roles, ranging from snobs to rectors to suffragette women. There always seems to be an aura of overdramatic acting pervading the script - but never irritatingly so. The sheer number of one-liners is impressive, and every few minutes Jason and I found ourselves laughing at the antics of either Guinness or Price or Greenwood.

This movie is a selection on both the Time Magazine and the BFI's Top 100 British Films. It has also been ranked as the 25th Greatest Comedy of All Time and the 7th Greatest British Film of all time by the readers of "Total Film" magazine. I highly recommend this early Guinness film and award it four dead relatives out of a possible five (4/5).

Kinky Boots (2005)

How Far Would You Go to Save the Family Business?

Directed by: Julian Jarrold
Written by: Geoff Deane and Tim Firth
Starring: Joel Edgerton as Charlie Price, Chiwetal Ejiofor as Lola, Sarah Jane Potts as Lauren, and Jemima Rooper as Nicola
Music by: Mainly consists of songs from the film sung by Ejiofor, but also includes music from David Bowie, Nina Simone, James Brown, The Dub Pistols, Jemima Rooper, Lyn Collins, Louis Jarrold, The Visitors, Diefenbach, and Kirsty MacColl

First of all, this movie shines because it's based on a true story. There really is a shoe factory in a small town in England which changed its line from men's shoes to men's shoes for transvestites. And granted this subject alone may be enough to keep the squeamish from watching this film. The movie makes a point of not condemning this lifestyle but prods you to accept people for who they really are - using both Lola and Charlie as examples, along with several smaller characters along the way. For the majority of the film, Ejiofor appears in drag, and if not in full drag, at least some makeup. And there is a large focus on sex appeal through the shoes.

Yet, for all the content issues some people may have with this film, it is amazingly clean. There are absolutely no sex scenes - not even implied. Charlie and his fiancee do not even live together. There is little swearing and practically no violence either. Simply men dancing in suggestive female costumes (which doesn't bother me because they're men). The storyline isn't typical and the end - while being slightly predictable - doesn't fall back on the usual excuses for it's predictability. The plot itself is tightly woven and very strong, and the characters are very well expressed.

My absolute favorite part of this movie is Chiwetal Ejiofor. His role in "Kinky Boots" has solidly placed him in my list of favorite actors. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for this part (and lost to Sasha Baren Cohen, which...don't even get me started on how stupid that is). He plays the part of Lola perfectly - as a man who isn't gay but loves dressing up in women's clothing, and a man who likes to challenge common social norms and doesn't enjoy doing what people expect. He sings all his own songs, which in itself could have gotten my respect, but he actually pulls off wearing women's outfits just fine. In fact, the first time you see him out of drag, you almost don't recognize him; which forces you to recognize just how much of him is wrapped up in his identity as Lola.

If you are very uncomfortable with the idea of cross dressing, you probably won't enjoy this movie. However, I do recommend it as a clean film with a good general moral lesson to teach in a fun and entertaining way with superb acting. I'd give this film five pairs of kinky boots out of a possible five (5/5).