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Droll farce stars Alec Guinness as a would-be criminal mastermind Professor Marcus. When Marcus's grand plan to pull off a train heist leads him to a strategically situated house occupied by the genteel Mrs. Wilberforce (Katie Johnson), the ensuing masquerade triggers a mordant, even macabre comedy of manners. With Marcus and his rough-hewn cronies (Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, and Danny Green) posing as a string quartet, and the dear lady's demise seen as the means to their larcenous end, the gang's sinister machinations are consistently, if unwittingly, foiled by the good-hearted, resourceful widow.
Original Release
12/08/1955
US Release
02/20/1956
Links
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Alec Guinness | Professor Marcus |
Cecil Parker | Claude, alias 'Major Courtney' / Claude |
Herbert Lom | Louis, alias 'Mr. Harvey' / Louis |
Peter Sellers | Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson' / Harry Robinson |
Danny Green | 'One-Round', alias 'Mr. Lawson' / One-Round |
Jack Warner | The Superintendent |
Katie Johnson | Mrs. Wilberforce / Louisa Wilberforce |
Philip Stainton | The Sergeant |
Frankie Howerd | The Barrow Boy |
Madge Brindley | Large Lady |
Directors
Writers
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Alec Guinness | Professor Marcus |
Cecil Parker | Claude, alias 'Major Courtney' / Claude |
Herbert Lom | Louis, alias 'Mr. Harvey' / Louis |
Peter Sellers | Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson' / Harry Robinson |
Danny Green | 'One-Round', alias 'Mr. Lawson' / One-Round |
Jack Warner | The Superintendent |
Katie Johnson | Mrs. Wilberforce / Louisa Wilberforce |
Philip Stainton | The Sergeant |
Frankie Howerd | The Barrow Boy |
Madge Brindley | Large Lady |
Helene Burls | Hypatia |
Jimmy Charters | Bystander |
Kenneth Connor | Cab Driver |
Michael Corcoran | Burglar |
Arthur Dibbs | Detective |
Harold Goodwin | Parcels Clerk |
Fred Griffiths | Junk Man |
Lucy Griffiths | Miss Pringle |
George Hilsdon | Security Van Driver |
Phoebe Hodgson | Constance |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Michael Balcon | Producer |
Seth Holt | Producer |
Editors
Trailers
Clips
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
1957 | Oscar | Best Writing, Best Screenplay - Original | Nominated |