Marky B

Watched The Ladykillers last night. I think Tom Hanks should have watched it before he decided to make the ill advised remake. At least then he would have said - "Can't better that".
Couple of points:
I believe it is Martin Scorseses' favourite film.
Imagine him doing the remake with Robert De Niro in the Alec Guinness role and Joe Pesci in the Herbert Lom role?
The captain in the picture (Mrs Wilberfoss' late husband) - is it Alec Guinness in one of his Kind Hearts and Coronets parts.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

Steve Crook

Scorsese has many favourite films :)
Different films for different reasons.

I have heard him (in interviews) say the same thing about The Searchers, The Tales of Hoffmann and quite a few others.

But a remake with De Niro & Pesci, now there's a thought :)

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Tony Pendrey

Like many, I have only ever seen this film on TV. There is one part which has always puzzled me. The character Louis says something to the Professor, I think he calls him "crazy", and then there is a dramatic close up of the back of Alec Guiness's head and at that point there is some kind of clumsy cut. Does anyone know what was edited out and why ?

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

JohnnyJape

Yes Tony I know exactly the bit you mean re: the shot of Alec Guinness' head.
I have played this bit over and over looking for the meaning of it all .I'm sorry I can't help you with it but I'm glad someone else is mystified as well . I find it a bit sinister .
John

Jape

glyn horton

Yes that's a very strange scene, made more sinister by a bit of 'manic' music at that point.
My view of the meaning of it is this : Louis is completely against the idea of involving Mrs Wilberforce in their plan and says something about sounding 'like it's been thought up by someone in a nuthouse!' . Then we see the back of the professor's head slowly turning round to face Louis and the look on Louis's face turns to surprise and fear. He meant it as a term of expression but he suddenly realises he's unintentionally hit the nail on the head.
And, of course, it sets up an advance warning for later in the film when Guinness really does lose it.

That's my view anyway!!

Tony Pendrey

Thanks John and Glynn for your input. It would seem that there may have been a little more on the subject of the Professor's past, either in the original script or in some early cut of the film. Obviously something was cut, but I still wonder what it was and if it was ever shown.

Cheers

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

Jim

Talking of the Ladykillers - the new one that is. I was given the new version for Christmas; not that I wanted it, but I thought I would give it a go. Well, it was fuzzy and there was someone's shoulder to the right of the screen!! OK, it was a pirate and 'dumped' forthwith. So I never got to give the Hank's version a viewing!

But my pal's face was a picture as he had been 'found out' buying pirated c**p!!!

Buyer beware!!!!

Good morning boys.