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IMDbPro

Kind Hearts and Coronets

  • 19491949
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
37K
YOUR RATING
Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Valerie Hobson, and Dennis Price in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer2:57
2 Videos
74 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
A distant poor relative of the Duke D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession.A distant poor relative of the Duke D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession.A distant poor relative of the Duke D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Hamer
  • Writers
    • Roy Horniman(novel)
    • Robert Hamer(screenplay)
    • John Dighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Dennis Price
    • Alec Guinness
    • Valerie Hobson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Hamer
  • Writers
    • Roy Horniman(novel)
    • Robert Hamer(screenplay)
    • John Dighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Dennis Price
    • Alec Guinness
    • Valerie Hobson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 171User reviews
    • 105Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 4 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    Kind Hearts and Coronets
    Trailer 2:57
    Kind Hearts and Coronets
    Kind Hearts and Coronets - Restoration Trailer
    Trailer 1:31
    Kind Hearts and Coronets - Restoration Trailer

    Photos74

    Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Joan Greenwood and Dennis Price in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Alec Guinness, Dennis Price, and Anne Valery in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson, and Dennis Price in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Dennis Price in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Joan Greenwood in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
    Dennis Price in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dennis Price
    Dennis Price
    • Louisas Louis
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • The D'Ascoyne Family: The Dukeas The D'Ascoyne Family: The Duke…
    Valerie Hobson
    Valerie Hobson
    • Edithas Edith
    Joan Greenwood
    Joan Greenwood
    • Sibellaas Sibella
    Audrey Fildes
    Audrey Fildes
    • Mamaas Mama
    Miles Malleson
    Miles Malleson
    • The Hangmanas The Hangman
    Clive Morton
    Clive Morton
    • The Prison Governoras The Prison Governor
    John Penrose
    John Penrose
    • Lionelas Lionel
    Cecil Ramage
    Cecil Ramage
    • Crown Counselas Crown Counsel
    Hugh Griffith
    Hugh Griffith
    • Lord High Stewardas Lord High Steward
    John Salew
    • Mr. Perkinsas Mr. Perkins
    Eric Messiter
    Eric Messiter
    • Burgoyneas Burgoyne
    Lyn Evans
    • The Farmeras The Farmer
    Barbara Leake
    Barbara Leake
    • The Schoolmistressas The Schoolmistress
    Peggy Ann Clifford
    • Maudas Maud
    Anne Valery
    • The Girl in the Puntas The Girl in the Punt
    Arthur Lowe
    Arthur Lowe
    • The Reporteras The Reporter
    Stanley Beard
    • Warderas Warder
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Hamer
    • Writers
      • Roy Horniman(novel)
      • Robert Hamer(screenplay)
      • John Dighton(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir Alec Guinness nearly drowned in the scene where the Admiral goes down with his sinking ship. Guinness was held down by wires whilst the set filled up with water. Once the scene was wrapped, the crew started to leave, until one technician suddenly realized that they had forgotten to release Sir Alec from the wires holding him underwater. He immediately dove into the waters with some wire-cutters and freed Guinness. Fortunately for all concerned, Guinness took great pride in his ability to hold his breath for long periods of time.
    • Goofs
      The first murder that Louis Mazzini commits involves him swimming fully dressed underwater to release a boat from its moorings. In spite of having brought no change of clothes or even a towel, he is shown shortly after committing the murder paddling down the river with his clothes bone-dry.
    • Quotes

      Sibella: [sobs] Oh Louis! I don't want to marry Lionel!

      Louis Mazzini: Why not?

      Sibella: He's so dull.

      Louis Mazzini: I must admit he exhibits the most extraordinary capacity for middle age that I've ever encountered in a young man of twenty-four.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits list photos of the 4 leading actors with their character names; in the case of Alec Guinness, 8 photos of the 8 characters he plays are shown, along with the one character name of "The D'Ascoyne Family." In the end credits, the 8 character names are listed for him.
    • Alternate versions
      Was available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Film Profile: Michael Balcon (1961)
    • Soundtracks
      The Aria is
      Il mio tesoro intanto"

      from Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)

      Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (uncredited)

      The music is played by The Philharmonia Orchestra

      Conducted by Ernest Irving

      Sung by an unidentified soloist

    User reviews171

    Review
    Top review
    A film in the mode of a Jane Austin novel.
    Kind Hearts and Corrents is in a sense an extrapolation of Jane Austin's satire of the English aristocracy. Where Austin gives the reader a sarcastic insight into their ways of life, Kind Hearts and Correnets kills the English aristocracy off, as if to symbolise their slow demise within modernity. But, as this film illustrates the aristocracy has methods of survival via its never ending line of descendants ready to take on hereditary titles. Ironically, the survival of the dukedom in this film is due to the actual banished heir to that title murdering his relatives who stand in his way. If you like, this is an illustration of how there will always be an aristocracy of sorts, in the form of rulers in all types of societies, as illustrated in George Orwell's Animal Farm. This is because as the famous psychologist Erich Fromm says, as a conservative society we have a 'fear of freedom' and depend on being subordinates of rulers, like children to their parents. In Kind Hearts and Correnets we see an example of this when the duke performs his paternalistic duty for his dependant proletariat.

    The irony is that the lead actor, Dennis Price, in Kind Hearts and Corerenets is a descendant of minor aristocracy, himself deprived of his title due to the paternalistic line being directed away from him. In this case he plays the part of the denounced heir superbly. Meanwhile Valery Hobson shines out as a beautiful, elegant lady, which could be less to do with acting skills and more about playing herself.

    As for Sir Alec Guiness, it goes without saying that he steals the film, with his range of acting talents, here some of them showcased in all the characters he plays.

    In the case of the screenplay, it is wittily directed, well paced, entertaining, and never for a second boring. This permits a distraction for the viewer, and the overlooking of the minor flaw of how there were no accusations pointed towards the lead character which are to the viewer easily detectable given that he was present at most of the murders of his arosticratic relatives.

    Overall, an ageless classic.
    helpful•7
    0
    • alexandra-25
    • Jul 16, 2006

    FAQ4

    • Is "Kind Hearts and Coronets" based on a novel?
    • What is the title "Kind Hearts and Coronets" supposed to mean?
    • Who are Alec Guinness's eight characters, and how do they die?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 14, 1950 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Adel verpflichtet
    • Filming locations
      • Leeds Castle, Kent, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Ealing Studios
      • Michael Balcon Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $35,948
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,004
      • Dec 1, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $145,583
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Valerie Hobson, and Dennis Price in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
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