The Ladykillers

The Ladykillers (1955) is Alexander Mackendrick's pitch-black crime comedy you can watch online on iFILM. Calling himself Professor Marcus, a smooth stranger rents a room from frail old widow Mrs. Wilberforce, claiming his string quintet needs a quiet place to rehearse.

There is, of course, no music. Behind the cello cases hide five crooks plotting a security-van heist, using the sweet landlady's house as cover. The job comes off, but the kindly old woman stumbles onto the truth, so the gang decides she has to go. The snag: doing away with one harmless pensioner proves far harder than robbing a bank. Alec Guinness plays Marcus behind a set of false teeth, with a young Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom rounding out the crew.

A jewel of Ealing Studios, it earned William Rose an Oscar nomination for the screenplay. The comedy runs dry, dark and startlingly merciless under its cozy English surface. Best for anyone who loves vintage British satire and isn't put off by a grim payoff. Stream The Ladykillers (1955) online on iFILM.