The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
Genre: Comedy / Crime
Duration: 78 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Charles Crichton
Stars: Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway and Sidney James
IMDb score:
7,5 (16.855)
Releasedate: 28 June 1951
The Lavender Hill Mob plot
"The men who broke the bank and lost the cargo!"
Henry Holland works at a gold transport company. After 20 years of loyal service without any appreciation, he decides to steal a million pounds worth of gold himself. Together with a sculpting friend and a couple of Cockney thugs, they intercept a gold shipment. They decide to melt the gold for the time being and make souvenirs from it, but things don't go quite according to plan...
Actors and actresses
Henry 'Dutch' Holland
Albert Pendlebury
Lackery
Shorty
Mrs. Chalk
Miss Evesham
Parkin
Turner
Wallis
Godwin
Reviews & comments
Dievegge
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- 3185 messages
- 8242 votes
Ealing's comedies embody subtle British humor, where understatement is key. This is one of those caper comedies where a heist unfolds in three phases: planning, execution, and the aftermath. No matter how well they prepare, it never goes entirely according to plan. There's always that one unforeseen detail.
Alec Guinness plays a good, down-to-earth man, at least, that's how he pretends while waiting for the big heist. Stanley Holloway is more of the common type, a sociable fatso and an incorrigible slob. The still-unknown Audrey Hepburn has a small role as a waitress in Brazil. It's structured as a frame story. Dutch Holland (Alec Guinness) is in Rio as a wealthy bon vivant, reflecting on his big move. Only at the end does it become clear why he and the man next to him keep a hand under the table: they're wearing handcuffs; Dutch has been arrested.
The editing keeps things moving, alternating between sharp dialogue, clever tricks, and comical action sequences. There are clever match cuts: from a small Eiffel Tower to a large one, from a newspaper headline reading "hot" to the forge. Menacing shadows are used during the two accomplices' nighttime burglary. Crafting such a comedy is as difficult as a weighty drama. You find yourself empathizing with the criminals, wondering what you would do in their place.
Translated from Dutch · View original
scorsese
-
- 13253 messages
- 11138 votes
An excellent film in which a gold transporter, after years of loyal service, seizes his chance. A highly entertaining, well-crafted heist film. A brisk pace and a series of humorous developments make it easy to watch (especially considering its short running time). After nearly 70 years, it hasn't lost any of its power, earning it a nearly 4.0 star rating.
Translated from Dutch · View original
BBarbie
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- 12893 messages
- 7675 votes
In my opinion, the ravages of time have certainly not been kind to this British comedy. Despite its stellar cast, the film now feels somewhat dated. What struck me most was the 15 seconds or so when Audrey Hepburn (early in her career) appears on screen as a chic companion.
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