Movieo
Poster for Kind Hearts and Coronets

Kind Hearts and Coronets

He chopped down the family tree...

1949 · 1h 44m · Not Rated Comedy, Crime
Directed by Robert Hamer

Seen it?

Overview

When his mother eloped with an Italian opera singer, Louis Mazzini was cut off from her aristocratic family. After the family refuses to let her be buried in the family mausoleum, Louis avenges his mother's death by attempting to murder every family member who stands between himself and the family fortune. But when he finds himself torn between his longtime love and the widow of one of his victims, his plans go awry.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
100%
Tomatometer
Fresh

At once a witty comedy of manners, a grotesque serial-killer caper and an acerbic satire on the class system.

Ben Walters, Time Out
Fresh

Robert Hamer's 1949 film is often cited as the definitive black, eccentric British comedy, yet it's several cuts better than practically anything else in the genre.

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh

Translation to a screen comedy has been effected with a mature wit.

Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh

It's a brilliantly cynical film without a hint of middle-class guilt or bitterness.

Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh

The sly and adroit Mr. Guinness plays eight Edwardian fuddy-duds with such devastating wit and variety that he naturally dominates the film.

Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films