Kind Hearts and Coronets

Kind Hearts and Coronets is a masterpiece of dark British comedy following Louis Mazzini, a distant heir who methodically murders his way through the aristocratic D'Ascoyne family after being denied his birthright. Alec Guinness delivers a tour de force performance playing all eight victims with remarkable distinction, while Dennis Price portrays Louis with charming, chilling detachment. The film remains celebrated for its razor-sharp wit, elegant storytelling, and gleefully subversive attitude toward class and murder.

• Alec Guinness played all eight D'Ascoyne family members himself.
• Dennis Price reportedly based his suave manner on Noël Coward.
• The film was based on Roy Horniman's 1907 novel.
• It consistently ranks among the greatest British films ever made.
• The movie was shot entirely in black and white for atmosphere.

• It is so difficult to make a neat job of killing people with whom one is not on friendly terms.
• I had no wish to rush. I wanted to savour every moment of my revenge.
• I was determined that no member of the family should lack a memorial.
• Etiquette demands that a woman should be allowed to keep her illusions.
• The D'Ascoynes had a weakness for fine food and mediocre music.