The Ladykillers

 The Ladykillers - 1955 - Alexander MacKendrick This is a dark, crime, and even somewhat dramatic comedy. The performances are well done. Laughter is achieved through very simple and crude situations, along with elaborate dialogue. It is a journey back in time—the vehicles, the building facades, the street in general. The atmosphere created beside the railway tracks, the darkness of the night, the smoke, the train, the iron train cars, the coal car, the old walls blackened by soot, and the depiction of the thieves—one with a nightstick, dark circles around his eyes—are all very well accomplished.

The original title of this British comedy is The Ladykillers. I imagine it translates to something like "lady killers" in the sense of a Don Juan, a handsome man who seduces women, though in Spanish it was titled El quinteto de la muerte [The Quintet of Death]. The role of Mrs. Wilberforce is played by an actress named Katie Johnson, who passed away two years later. This movie was her most significant work; for her performance, she won the BAFTA Award for Best British Actress, and the film also won the award for Best Screenplay at the same ceremony, alongside receiving an Academy Award nomination.

The role of Professor Marcus was portrayed by Alec Guinness, a renowned actor with a long career. Although he is the most "intellectual" member of the gang, his almost sinister characterization gives him a frightening air of suspense, with very well-executed gestures and movements. The house is meticulously maintained, except everything is slightly tilted—from the staircase to the pictures. Marcus is surprised, and Mrs. Wilberforce replies, "I fear I find it impossible to keep them straight, Professor Marcus, because of the shocks." Marcus asks, "Shocks?" and she responds, "Yes, the bombing, they are all crooked."

There are many situations that are very funny, even the most ridiculous ones, or those where crime appears, which doesn't need to show blood to convey what it intends to. The turning point happens the moment the crime is discovered, all due to a very crude situation that ingeniously flips the story, and best of all, it doesn't lose momentum but rather gains intensity until the climax. The unusual situations reach the point where the old lady ends up using the criminals' slang: "I know I carried the loot for you," something she repeats in front of the police. For those who enjoy classic cinema, this is a great choice not to be missed.

The Ladykillers - 2004 - Ethan Coen and Joel Coen I didn't like the beginning of this remake; bad taste prevails over suspense. A close-up of two snoring police officers followed by a close-up of shoe soles has neither humor nor suspense. The woman gesticulates a lot, heavily overacting. There is a lot of vulgarity in the language. At least the first 30 minutes were extremely boring for a comedy; there is no suspense, no mystery, no humor. The performances leave much to be desired. The woman, the owner of the house, leaves a lot to be desired—very overacted, hardly believable. Tom Hanks' performance is good; he is a talented, acclaimed actor. The second half gets a bit more entertaining, but only minimally so. The dialogue and characterizations are dull, and upcoming events are highly predictable. As a remake, I didn't like it at all.