Overview
A darkly comedic tale of ambition and revenge unfolds as a man seeks to reclaim his family's legacy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- mordant
- elegant
- classic film night
- dark comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a brilliantly crafted, enduringly entertaining dark comedy, especially praising Dennis Price and Alec Guinness's performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Louis methodically eliminates members of the D'Ascoyne family while the film maintains an urbane, comic register.
Alec Guinness plays eight members of the D'Ascoyne family, making the succession plot visually and comically distinctive.
Louis retaliates against the family that disowned his mother and denied her burial in the ancestral crypt.
Louis writes the account of his crimes while awaiting execution in prison.
Films like Kind Hearts and Coronets, and why
The Ladykillers
Shared blend of elegant black comedy, social satire, murder, and class-conscious revenge.
The Trouble with Harry
Both are acclaimed British comedies using refined manners to frame criminal schemes and escalating macabre humor.
The Ruling Class
Shares a mordant tone, upper-class absurdity, and comedy built around calculated criminal behavior.
The Lavender Hill Mob
Comparable for its period British setting, satirical treatment of status, and polished comic criminality.
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Hamer
- Release Date
- 1949-06-23
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (630)
Cast
- Dennis Price
- Alec Guinness
- Joan Greenwood
- Valerie Hobson
- Audrey Fildes
- Miles Malleson
- Clive Morton
- John Penrose
- Cecil Ramage
- Hugh Griffith
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- BFI Player Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Kind Hearts and Coronets about?
- An impeccably mannered Ealing black comedy follows a wronged aristocratic heir who murders his way through a family succession.
- What is Kind Hearts and Coronets like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Kind Hearts and Coronets as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Kind Hearts and Coronets violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Kind Hearts and Coronets as moderate.
- What did critics think of Kind Hearts and Coronets?
- Critics broadly regard it as a brilliantly crafted, enduringly entertaining dark comedy, especially praising Dennis Price and Alec Guinness's performances.
- Which films are like Kind Hearts and Coronets?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ladykillers, The Trouble with Harry, The Ruling Class, and The Lavender Hill Mob.
- How long is Kind Hearts and Coronets?
- Kind Hearts and Coronets runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Kind Hearts and Coronets?
- In United States, Kind Hearts and Coronets streams on BFI Player Amazon Channel.
