Merry black comedy from the UK and Ealing Studios, featuring Alec Guinness in eight different roles making up the D'Ascoynes Family of Edwardian England. Guinness plays the Duke, the Banker, the Parson, the General, the Admiral, young Ascoyne, young Henry and Lady Agatha, each of whom stands in the way of a disgruntled relative whose deceased mother was shunned by the family after she married for love, not money. Robert Hamer both directed and co-adapted the screenplay from a novel by Roy Horniman; he keeps a steady pace and doesn't allow Guinness to be hammy or to overwhelm the scenario (a few of the actor's incarnations are seen only in cameo, which helps). There are definite flaws in the storytelling, particularly in the lack of an investigation after one character is killed (by an exploding jar of caviar!). For the most part, a ticklish affair, one with an ironic third-act twist plus a terrific finish.
Review of Kind Hearts and Coronets
