Alexander Mackendrick doesn't get nearly enough credit as being one of the best directors of the 50s, and, between The Ladykillers and The Man in the White Suit alone, great comedy director.

About what you'd expect from an Ealing comedy, though without any sharp edges; this is more Titfield Thunderbolt than Lavender Hill Mob in spite of its being a heist film. I'm trying to remember.... didn't the Lavender Hill Mob have that chilling shot of someone's dentures getting knocked out? There's nothing so gruesome here, just some comic repetition of corpses getting thrown from a bridge onto passing trains. The broad comedy of the film draws from the titular lady's unmistakably Victorian colonization of the role of the police. But what's scarier than this harbinger of public surveillance is the lumpy prosthetic in Alec Guinness's mouth.

Glad I got to finally see this 50's classic, yet since I had seen and loved the Coen's brothers' version years ago, I was left disappointed. Fun to see Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom together pre-Pink Panther, yet the movie didn't do much for me. The Coen brothers spoiled me rotten.

Wonderful Ealing comedy - the perfect film with good plotting and great acting.

When I was younger (around 16) I watched the Coen's The Ladykillers multiple times. I had no idea it was a remake, or who the Coen Brothers were, and without any of that 'film baggage' I actually really liked the movie. As I got older the IBS stuff got less funny and I could see the flaws, but it was interesting to actually go back and see the original which I had heard so much about.
I did like the movie but I thought the pacing was slightly off. I also didn't laugh as much as I was expecting to, with Peter Sellers basically playing a straight man.
I think my opinion of this film is heavily based on my expectations and therefore I'd like to re-visit it in the near future.

More entertaining than particularly funny, but a beautifully structured film.

Time has unfortunately dulled the once sidesplitting aspects of this Ealing comedy. The cast is excellent, but the direction is so mannered and polite that you will be smiling instead of rolling over in a fit. Otto Heller's camerawork is lovely as usual and brings a darkness to the proceedings that the script is unable to. Still fun in a quaint though somewhat overly-cutesy way.

I've tried again and again with this film but I just can't love it. Alec Guinness and Katie Johnson are marvellous (although my favourite old lady is the tiny one who brings in the newspaper), and the first half is full of gorgeously lit compositions and chucklesome moments, but once Mrs Lopsided discovers the lolly it's a slow and repetitive haul to the denouement. And let's be fair, you have to be a stupendously passionate fan of Boccherini not to be driven hair-tearingly insane by that minuet.

The Ladykillers is quite the hilarious comedy caper. Alec Guiness and Peter Seller are in fine form, stealing much of the scenes. The plot is brilliant and executed wonderfully. The robbery sequence was one of the best. Also, the scene where they are drawing "straws" (they're are actually matches) to determine who is going to get rid of the old lady was very familiar. Then I remember that I saw it in Series 3 of MisFits when the gang draw straws to determine who is going to kill the zombie cat. I am definitely looking forward to the Coen Brothers remake. I feel like I'll enjoy the Coens' remake regardless, because if history is any indication, the Coen Brothers are great at re-imagining original material. Overall? I'd recommend it.

An english comedy classic which is much more enjoyable than the Coen remake.

She is just the sweetest lady.

Classic Ealing comedy! Sir Alec in fine form as is Peter Sellers. Also a young Frankie Howard.
Really funny movie, classic stuff, with a feel good factor, they dont make them like they used too!