charliekane

Does anyone have any information/theories about what seems to be a strange cut in The Ladykillers, where (I think) Herbert Lom calls Alec Guinness something like 'crazy' and there is a geat, sinister close-up on AG, the music builds up to a climax and he seems about to say something significant, but then it cuts altogether to a new angle and the scene is completely different.
Was something taken out ?

billy bentley

According to John Fisher's biography of Tommy Cooper, TC was in serious contention for a part in THe Ladykillers. Anyone know if this might be true ?

cally

Good question - and something that's troubled me for years now.

Any answers?

penfold

The first I've heard about it, not that it makes it untrue. What role was mentioned...was it 'One Round', Danny Green's role???

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

CaptainWaggett

Or maybe Frankie Howerd's part? How big a star was Cooper in 1955?

batman

He was very popular, making regular TV appearances and was his live shows were sell outs.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

CaptainWaggett

I think much the same applied to Howerd at that point. Cooper hadn't made any films so a big role might have been rather a risk. Was Cooper that interested in films? He didn't make one until 1960.

batman

I believe he received offers, but was too busy with radio, live performances and TV to take them up.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

billy bentley

Sorry chaps can't exactly remember and have donated the book to a charity shop, It was as one of the gang and I'm pretty certain that it was One Round or Sellers' part. Batman is quite right (according to Fisher) Cooper had too many commitments to fit in a shooting schedule. I'm glad he didn't - ilke the cast as it appeared.

image45

when ever I get my DVD of this out it never fails to keep me watching

"Seya next time!"

cally

Any answer then to the original question?

It's something that's bugged me for years.

EHV_Emmetts

No, I don't believe anything was taken out. I think that is part of the scene because Mrs. Lopsided then walks in with another tray of tea.

steve lyden brown

I have always taken the view that The Maggie draws sharp parallels between the sharp and dynamic post war America and it's much vaunted efficiency, backed up by their attitude of "There are no problems, merely solutions" ! as against the Britain of Victorian times, whereby tradition and hidebound practices struggle against change.

emmalaura

I saw this film a year ago during a module on 1950s British Cinema in my third yeah. It is possibly the best Ealing film. The combination of dark comedy and light entertainment is delightful, as is the amazing performance by Sir Alec.

Keechelus

I am surprised this topic didn't arise, even if for condemnation.

The Coen Bros LADYKILLERS (2004) was a marvellous idea. Joel and Ethan Coen's acerbic wit; a good cast of willing oddballs (not least Tom Hanks, but J K Simmons and Irma Hall as well); T-Bone Burnett's enlistment of gospel music; and the wry comment on rural Mississippi.

Thud. The movie failed on every point. It could have been called THE LAUGHTERKILLERS. A damn shame.

I am a Coen fan, but they missed all the points. Why? It beats me.

MacKendrick's 1955 humour was broad (Katie Johnson banging on her pipes, harrassing the police, talking to her cockatoo), but reworked by the Coens, it was was not funny.

Guinness was perfectly oily in 1955, and 2004's Tom Hanks was arguably better with his Su'thn gentleman character.

"Waffles, we must have waffles forthwith!" was a steal from Withnail And I. The Coens are notorious parodists, and I wonder if they let LADYKILLERS slip from a real movie into a series of sketches.

Too bad, because their O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU (2000) was an episodic comedy that really worked.

Any thoughts on the Coens' LADYKILLERS? I will be pleased to fight for (it has its moments) or against (total shite).