THE LAVENDER HILL MOB (1951)

There are many fine examples of the distinctive, insular world of ‘Ealing Comedy’ in the decade after WWII, but only three lodestars: KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS/’49; THE LAVENDER HILL MOB, and two months later, THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT/’51.  That last one, perhaps best of all, sharpest of social comedies as it tackles class, labor, management, commerce, science, family; each hilariously taken apart and put back together.  With CORONETS the blackest & probably best known (thanks to a famous casting stunt), it leaves MOB, gentlest of the set, perhaps the best one to start with.  Naturally, it stars Alec Guinness, the one element common to all three, dropping his ‘r’s as a mild-mannered accountant in charge of getting gold bullion safely across town and delivered to the bank.  But when fate, in the form of souvenir trinket manufacturer Stanley Holloway, moves into his rooming house, it’s a case of irresistible force meets movable object.  That object?  Miniature Eiffel Towers for the tourist trade; perfect for smuggling out of the country.  Screenwriter T.E.B. Clarke works out near perfect obstacles to the caper that wind up helping rather than hurting the enterprise, as well as memorable side characters.  (And, pace Hollywood, no romantic element at all.)  Cleanly helmed by Charles Crichton, an Ealing regular who knew when to add a clever touch* and when to stay out of the way.  (No wonder, John Cleese pulled him out of retirement for A FISH CALLED WANDA/’88.)  Even a fun little bonus in the form of an early bit for a pre-ROMAN HOLIDAY Audrey Hepburn looking downright radiant under Douglas Slocombe’s lensing.  The film’s a peach.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK:  *As mentioned: KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS; MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT.   https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2022/02/kind-hearts-and-coronets-1949.html   https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-man-in-white-suit-1951.html

CONTEST: *One of those clever bits echt Ernst Lubitsch, the sort of proper ‘Lubitsch Touch’ many try, but few pull off.  Post your answer in COMMENTS to win a MAKSQUIBS Write-Up of your choosing.