Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Kind Hearts and Coronets 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 22, 2024

Robert Hamer's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the disc include new audio commentary by critic Kat Ellinger; archival program with filmmakers Whit Stillman, Paul King, Stephen Woolley and critic Peter Bradshaw; vintage introduction by John Landis; documentary film about Dennis Price; and more. In English, with optional English SDH and German subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The film begins with the end. Alone in his cell, Louis Mazzini (Dennis Price, Bikini Baby, Noose for a Lady), a British aristocrat with Italian blood, reveals that he has very little time left to live -- until dawn, when he is going to be hanged. He admits that this would be an unfortunate end to his life, but also clarifies that it does not matter. What does is that he took care of them -- the d'Ascoynes, who disowned his mother after she ran away with an Italian opera singer. They absolutely had to die. Period.

Then Mazzini begins recalling how he killed each of his relatives. Most of them were incredibly naïve, incredibly pretentious, so easy to manipulate. And he took great pleasure in killing them -- but not before he humiliated them. Wealthy sheep, that is what they were, and he was a wolf. Patient, smart, determined to get them.

One of the d'Ascoynes liked Mazzini so much that he even gave him a job in the family controlled bank, and later on made him a partner. It was the best job he ever had because at one point all loan applications had to be approved by him. Those were glory times. He could easily rebuild and destroy lives with his signature, and no one would question his decisions.

Another of Mazzini’s famous relatives was a passionate photographer (Alec Guinness, The Lavender Hill Mob). He was also passionate about alcohol. His beautiful wife (Valerie Hobson, Great Expectations) did not know about his problem and thought that he spent most of his time working in his studio. When Mazzini met her, he instantly fell in love with her and decided that he had to have her. An unfortunate accident then made his wish come true.

There was a time when Mazzini also wanted to marry his childhood sweetheart, Sibella (Joan Greenwood, Tom Jones), but she chose someone else (John Penrose, Hot Ice), a man with money and status, which at the time he did not have. But it felt so good to have their marriage destroyed later on -- though, perhaps he should have destroyed her first so that she would not have come after him.

The main protagonist in Robert Hamer’s Kind Hearts and Coronets is fascinating to behold. He is elegant, polite, respectful, and well-spoken, a true gentleman any woman would love to be seen with. But he is also a cold-blooded serial killer who absolutely loves what he does.

Most of the time, Hamer treats the gentleman as a great artist, which is what makes Kind Hearts and Coronets so irresistibly funny. As he quietly explains why and how certain things are done, one is forced to regard the killings as great works of art.

The bulk of the humor is very dry and very cold but feels most appropriate for the decadent society which the d'Ascoynes belong to. The manner in which the gentleman handles his relatives isn’t any different from the way they treat the underprivileged around them; only the pretexts they use to excuse their actions are slightly different.

The film has often been praised for Guinness’ remarkable stunts as he plays the eight d'Ascoynes Mazzini kills, and rightfully so, but it is Price’s performance that delights the most. His casual but disturbing narration and elegant mannerisms are absolutely superb.

Kind Hearts and Coronets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

StudioCanal's release of Kind Hearts and Coronets is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-B "locked".

Please note that all screencaptures in this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray disc and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Kind Hearts and Coronets was restored in 4K several years ago, and StudioCanal released the 4K makeover on Blu-ray in 2019. You can see our listing and review of this release here.

I was very much looking forward to this release because I wanted to see how the 4K makeover looks in native 4K with HDR. While quite good, the 1080p presentation of it left me with the impression that darker nuances and darker areas in general could have been graded a little better. However, I also suspected that something could not have been handled properly during the transition from 4K to 1080p.

In native 4K, the 4K makeover looks very nice. Density levels are better, and in different areas clarity and sharpness are better as well. However, as I thought, the 4K makeover produces slightly stronger blacks than I would have liked to see. I think that the overall balance is noticeably better in native 4K, so you should expect to see more fines nuances in darker areas, but in select areas very light crushing is still noticeable. Nevertheless, because of the other improvements that give the visuals an even more attractive organic appearance, the 4K presentation is the one I will be revisiting in the future.

Kind Hearts and Coronets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

This is the same audio track that was included on StudioCanal's Blu-ray release of Kind Hearts and Coronets. Clarity, sharpness, and balance are very, very good on it. While revisiting the film in native 4K, I did not encounter any issues to report in our review.

Kind Hearts and Coronets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary features critic Peter Bradshaw, director Terence Davies and Matthew Guinness. It also appeared on the previous release of Kind Hearts and Coronets.

• Commentary Two - this new audio commentary was recorded by critic Kat Ellinger.

• Introduction - a short introduction to Kind Hearts and Coronets by John Landis. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• BFI's Introducing Ealing Studios - this video program focuses on the rich history of Ealing Studios and some of its most prominent figures. Included in it are clips from interviews with author Matthew Sweet (Shepperton Babylon) and BFI curator Mark Duguid. The program was created in 2012. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Once More With Ealing - this brand new video program focuses on the unique nature of the humor that the Ealing films promoted and how it is represented in Kind Hearts & Coronets. Included in it are clips from brand new interviews with writer/director Paul King (Paddington 2), producer Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game), writer/director Whit Stillman (Barcelona), and critic Peter Bradshaw, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (45 min).

• Those British Faces: Dennis Price - a wonderful tribute to the great Dennis Price. The documentary features plenty of clips from many of the actor's best films. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Alternate U.S. Ending - a slightly longer but less effective ending. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery -

• Costume Stills Gallery -

• Original Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for Kind Hearts and Coronets. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Rerelease Trailer (2019) - presented here is a promotional trailer for the 4K restoration of Kind Hearts and Coronets. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary features critic Peter Bradshaw, director Terence Davies and Matthew Guinness. It also appeared on the previous release of Kind Hearts and Coronets.

• Commentary Two - this new audio commentary was recorded by critic Kat Ellinger.

• Introduction - a short introduction to Kind Hearts and Coronets by John Landis. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• BFI's Introducing Ealing Studios - this video program focuses on the rich history of Ealing Studios and some of its most prominent figures. Included in it are clips from interviews with author Matthew Sweet (Shepperton Babylon) and BFI curator Mark Duguid. The program was created in 2012. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Once More With Ealing - this brand new video program focuses on the unique nature of the humor that the Ealing films promoted and how it is represented in Kind Hearts & Coronets. Included in it are clips from brand new interviews with writer/director Paul King (Paddington 2), producer Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game), writer/director Whit Stillman (Barcelona), and critic Peter Bradshaw, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (45 min).

• Those British Faces: Dennis Price - a wonderful tribute to the great Dennis Price. The documentary features plenty of clips from many of the actor's best films. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Alternate U.S. Ending - a slightly longer but less effective ending. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery -

• Costume Stills Gallery -

• Original Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. trailer for Kind Hearts and Coronets. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Rerelease Trailer (2019) - presented here is a promotional trailer for the 4K restoration of Kind Hearts and Coronets. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Kind Hearts and Coronets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you look around, you will realize that there are a lot of different opinions on the qualities that define classic British humor and the films that best represent them. 'Classic' is a term that is largely irrelevant to me, so I will just say that I find British humor most effective when it is witty and gently subversive, if the occasion justifies it unabashedly naughty as well. All of these qualities are on full display in Kind Hearts and Coronets, which is precisely the reason why I consider it one of the best of its kind.

This upcoming 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack release offers a native 4K presentation of the recent 4K restoration of Kind Hearts and Coronets, which StudioCanal introduced on Blu-ray in 2019. Should you upgrade if you already have the Blu-ray release? While there is some room for small improvements in darker areas in native 4K as well, I think that Kind Hearts and Coronets looks lovely on 4K Blu-ray. If it is one of your favorite films, you should consider giving yourself a present. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.