Bittersweet Revenge

I was born three years after this film was released in 1949. As a child in the fifties and sixties I remember it was always years before films were shown on TV. After all not everyone had access to a television set. We acquired our first set in 1959 when I was seven, but of course it only showed programmes in black and white and only had one, or two if you were lucky, channels. There were no videos and DVD's so you had to wait for favourite films to come around again or go to the cinema.

Kind and Coronets was a favourite of my Dad's and I guess I must have a similar sense of humour to him as I have always loved it. I saw it first when I was about ten years old and thoroughly enjoyed it but some of the finer points of the humour was wasted on me, as a child. I have seen this film umpteen times since and still manage to enjoy a screening and have a laugh, despite often knowing what is coming next these days. As with favourite films there are always many lines which may be adopted into our own language. One of my favourites from this film, which I often use, is Dennis Price's comment about someone speaking 'Interminable nonsense' How true so often and yet so funny.

So I shall give some detail about this film and try not to spoil it for the uninitiated reader.

The film starts with the adult Louis Mazzini sat in a cell awaiting his execution which is scheduled for the next day. Dennis Price plays Louis Mazzini, whose mother comes from aristocratic birth and whose father, an opera singer, was considered to be to lowly to marry her. Cast out by her wealthy family , she and Louis live a fairly parsimonious existence. Louis develops a great hatred for the members of his mother's family, namely the d'Asgoyne's. When his path unfavourably crosses that of a snooty relative he sets out on a course of vengeance with the aim of destroying the d'Asgoynes and gaining the family fortune.

The film is a black comedy set in the early 20th century before Women had the right to vote. We are in fact treat to the sight of one of the female d'Asgoynes in her fight for 'Votes for women' The film is full of irony and has become a classic along with the other Ealing comedies of the time. The British Ealing Studios produced many comedy films which are now classics and to my mind are all fabulous in their own way.

Alec Guiness, pre the days of his knighthood, plays no less than eight members of the d'Asgoyne family, including the female suffragette. His sardonic expression and , at times, haughty voice is perfect for the roles. Dennis Price has a sufficiently charming and elegant voice, as does his first love Sybilla, the excellent Joan Greenwood. The style of the film, plus the costumes and scenery, are both stylish and fitting. The film uses language which is very much of the period and flows along at a gentle pace.

Overall as I guess you have realised I simply love this film. Yes it is dated but then again it was made in 1949. It still has masses of appeal with great actors and a nice twist to the film. As a tale of the differences between the classes it was probably more relevant back in the fifties but should still amuse. Watch it for what it is and you should thoroughly enjoy it. It is suitable for most ages and can be picked up cheaply these days on DVD. If some of the copies have had colour added try to watch a black and white copy as it really fits the film much better.

Cast includes:
Dennis Price
Alec Guiness
Joan Greenwood
Valerie Hobson, who I loved in Hobson's choice also.
A young Arthur Lowe
John Penrose
Hugh Griffith and more.
As Alec Guiness plays so many roles obviously there is a smaller cast than normal. It shows how versatile he is when you look at the different ages, sexes and types of individual that he plays. Sir Alec was such a success in these roles that, this film put him firmly on the road to stardom.
Director - Robert Hamer
Producer - Michael Balcon.
Running Time 106 minutes.

The title, Kind Hearts and Coronets, was taken from a couplet by Tennyson which is quoted by one of the characters-'Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood' which when you watch the film you will realise is very true. This film was release in France also where it was called ' Noblesse Oblige'

You can pick up a copy of Kind Hearts and Coronets very cheaply or pay a little more and buy it as part of a package of Ealing comedy films. With any luck it will be doing the rounds on TV again soon and if you take my advice you will make an effort to watch it.

Love it.

Thanks for reading
Copyright Eiley 2007