Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

A vengeful man seeks to inherit a dukedom by systematically murdering the eight people ahead of him in the line of succession.

First release year

1949

Runtime (minutes)

106

Production countries

United Kingdom

Original languages

English

Directors

Robert Hamer

Writers

Robert Hamer · screenplay; John Dighton · screenplay

Genres

crime; black comedy

Themes

class; sexual repression; satire

Tone and mood

satirical; ironic; transgressive

Setting

Edwardian England

Premise and plot tags

murder; inheritance; nobility; black comedy

Source material / true-story basis

Israel Rank: The Autobiography of A Criminal (1907) by Roy Horniman

Reception

The film was well received by critics and has continued to receive favourable reviews over the years, being included in several 'top 100' lists.

Awards and nominations

British Academy Film Award · Best British Film · Nominated; Venice International Film Festival · Best Production Design · Won

Production trivia

The film's title was taken from an 1842 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.; One shot features Guinness appearing as six of his characters at once in a single frame.

Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.

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