Who would have thought that we’d get back to back MOTM Episodes? That happened because we had no show the first week of February and with a short month, things sneak up on you. This month all of the choices for MOTM were provided by the host,, it is his birthday month and that’s how we roll on the LAMB. The community however makes the final choice and they went for the oldest film on the list.

All of these were blind spots for Richard, but we had a couple of LAMBs who enthusiastically endorsed “Kind Hearts and Coronets” from 1949/1950.

Howard Casner of “Pop Art” had discussed the film on our January Roll your own episode, which is why it ended up being included on the list and why Howard was glad to join the show. David Brook of “Blueprint Review” lists it among his favorite films and he encouraged others to vote for it. When James Wilson of Blogging by Cinema Light” heard that we were talking about the film, he was easily persuaded to join the show. And finally, Matthew Simpson of the “Awesome Friday Podcast”, who has staked a claim to a permanent seat in the MOTM episodes, was like Richard, a first time viewer of the film.

The movie may be most well known as the film where Alec Guinness has eight multiple roles, playing the victims of a serial murderer. The star however is character actor Dennis Price, as Louis D’Ascoyne Mazzini, the son of a woman disowned by her aristocratic family for marrying out of her social class. After her death, a vengeful Louis decides to take the family’s dukedom by murdering the eight people ahead of him in the line of succession to the title.

It is a dark comedy of manners, with Edwardian social mores being upheld even by the killer. Along with “The Lavender Hill Mob”, “The Ladykillers” and “The Man in the White Suit”, it established the Ealing Studios as the premiere source of social comedy in the 40s and 50s. Our discussion enters spoiler territory early on, so don’t expect us to hold back on the twists.

Introductions

Opening Thoughts and History 3:41

Alec Guinness Casting 16:00

Plot Elements 24:20

Dennis Price 40:50

Final Thoughts 48:00

Exit Question 52:00

Howard Pop Art

Matthew Cascadian Film and Television Critics Association

James Blogging By Cinema Light

David Blueprint Review

Richard KAMAD

The show can be found, of course, via iTunes – just do a search for “LAMBcast.” Also, I always post a link to the show on the LAMBcast’s Facebook page and on the LAMB Facebook Page.There’s a link  there if you’d like to listen online. Find the show here:

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/lambcast/episodes/2025-02-11T14_36_58-08_00

If you’d ever like to catch up on back episodes, go there. If you’re interested, you too can be a LAMBcaster – we love new blood! For more information on the LAMBcast, contact Richard at kirkham007@gmail.com. The LAMBcast loves feedback, too – if you’d like yours read on a future show, leave it in the comments section on Facebook or X. Please visit and like our Facebook page, and finally, we’re on iTunes, and would still love a review. Thanks for listening!