The defence The Big-Idea Head
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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The Ladykillers
Comedy · Crime · 1955
Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.
Movie details
The Ladykillers
1955 Comedy · Crime 1h 31m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
7.3 / 10
Community rating
Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over The Ladykillers?
For the defence
The Big-Idea Head
“You watch with your brain, not your gut.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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The Ladykillers
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Alexander Mackendrick
Written by
William Rose
Alec Guinness
Professor Marcus
Cecil Parker
Claude, alias 'Major Courtney'
Herbert Lom
Louis, alias 'Mr. Harvey'
Peter Sellers
Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson'
Danny Green
'One-Round', alias 'Mr. Lawson'
Katie Johnson
Mrs. Wilberforce
Jack Warner
The Superintendent
Court is in session
Put The Ladykillers on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.