Review of Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) by John R — 09 Sep 2008
A brilliant black comedy and satire, Kind Hearts and Coronets is a delight for the intelligent movie-goer. Dennis Price, as the anti-hero Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini, manages very well the difficult task of balancing our admiration and loathing for the murderous hero, while Alec Guinness compels delight and amazement by a sextuple role as various members of the D'Ascoyne family ranging from a dotty admiral to a long-winded vicar to a priggish Suffragette.
The film is perhaps a tiny bit slow-paced for American viewers, but its leisureliness is wholly appropriate to its Edwardian setting, and helps counteract the calculated brutality of its plot. This is truly one of the greatest comedy films ever made.
This review of Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) was written by John R on 09 Sep 2008.
Kind Hearts and Coronets has generally received very positive reviews.
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