A black comedy, with beautiful writing — the screenplay, co-written by Robert Hamer, its director, is a joy— and flawlessly silly film-making.

Drownings, explosions, and poisonings, their ethical status barely mentioned, let alone chastised, roll by like carriages in the park. The comedy is as black as widow's weeds. Artfulness is all.

A high comedy that is enlivened with cynicism, loaded with dramatic irony and shot through with a suspicion of social satire.

Kind Hearts and Coronets is a delightfully dark comedy featuring a king’s ransom of fantastic performances by Guinness as well as leads Dennis Price, Joan Greenwood, and Valerie Hobson.