Family Affair: Alec Guinness Times Eight in Kind Hearts and Coronets

SteynonLine ^ | September 26, 2026 | Rick McGinnis

[Twotone]

Lists of very British things can be relied upon to have evergreen entries – tea, fish and chips, pubs, queues, small talk about weather – based on venerable stereotypes that nobody wants to debunk or discard. Less cited but still quintessentially British is the class system, which still persists in all its layers and fine gradations nearly thirty years after Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott (and not, as often claimed, John Major) proclaimed that "We are all middle class now."

If I were to make a personal list of British things I would include comedies produced by Ealing Studios in the '40s and '50s – films that were made by design to reflect, satirize and celebrate Britain and the British. So what could be more British than an Ealing comedy about the class system?

Even more, what could be more British than a film set in the Edwardian era, made after World War Two, about a poor relation killing off a whole generation of aristocratic relatives standing between him and a dukedom? How about Alec Guinness playing all eight of those relatives? Would that this were a buried treasure, but Kind Hearts and Coronets is among the top five films made by Ealing during their brief but golden heyday, still beloved by critics and audiences.

The film begins with a man carrying a valise, trudging at night to the gate of a prison where the notice of an impending execution is posted. Miles Malleson plays the hangman, an onscreen version of Albert Pierrepoint, and his services have been engaged to deliver the sentence on Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini (Dennis Price), also known as the 10th Duke of Chalfont.

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TOPICS: History; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: alecguinness; britain; movies

[PBRCat]

This film was incredibly funny. Dennis Price and Alec Guinness were outstanding.

Watch the original 1949 Ealing comedy “Kind Hearts and Coronets.” Stay clear of the clumsy American remake “How to Make a Killing.” The updated movies is not half as good.

[vaskypilot]

This a favorite film of mine. In the days before VHS recording, I remember staying awake to the wee hours to watch it. Yes. I am showing my age.

[Cronos]

It’s a wonderful film.

Now you make me want to go watch it again

[Liz]

“Kind Hearts and Coronets” is one of my fave films I luckily caught on TV.

Alec Guinness plays eight different parts.....and is absolutely brilliant in each role.

Dennis Price as the casual killer is so amusing in the killing methods
chosen to secure his rightful place in the family that disowned his mother.

[yuleeyahoo]

Alec was a great actor with a large volume of work, sadly he mostly be remembered for Star Wars.

[Liz]

All Alec Guinness.

[decal]

In The Ladykillers there's a photograph of Guinness as Admiral D'Ascoyne on the wall of Mrs Wilberforce's parlor (she is the widow of a British naval officer).

I've often thought there could be a sequel made of this film featuring twin siblings of the Duke, attempting to kill each other off to inherit the dukedom (make them brother and sister since the title can be passed down thru the female line).

[Chainmail]

I's one of my favorite comedies - along with (and somehow not mentioned) The Last Holiday (not the stupid remake). Alec Guiness was wonderful in both of these.