Kind Hearts and Coronets 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Kind Hearts and Coronets 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 21, 2025

Robert Hamer's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include archival introduction by John Landis; documentary film about Dennis Price; audio interview with cinematographer Douglas Slocombe; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH 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 to which the d'Ascoynes belong. The manner in which the gentleman handles his relatives is quite similar to 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 

Kino Lorber's 4K Blu-ray release of Kind Hearts and Coronets does not have a Blu-ray copy of the film. If you need one, you should consider acquiring this Blu-ray release.

Please note that all screencaptures included with 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.

This release offers a native 4K presentation of the recent 4K restoration of Kind Hearts and Coronets, which StudioCanal initially introduced on Blu-ray and then on 4K Blu-ray.

If you have seen our reviews of the StudioCanal releases, linked above, you already know my opinion on the quality of the work done during the restoration process. The entire film looks very healthy now and boasts visuals with a fine organic appearance. (For reference, StudioCanal's original Blu-ray release from 2011, which introduced a different restoration, does not give the film the same type of healthy organic appearance). These visuals have superior density levels as well. However, while delineation, clarity, and depth are improved, the 4K restoration is graded a bit too aggressively, and the grayscale often introduces light crushing, eliminating some existing detail. How much exactly? In some areas, the crushing can be quite obvious, while elsewhere, especially where there are many lighter gray nuances, its effects are easier to ignore. I was prepared to dislike the HDR because of the crushing. However, to my surprise, many of the same darker areas looked fairly similar, only slightly richer. So, knowing that the crushing is there, if I had to choose between the native 4K and 1080p presentations, I would go with the former. Image stability is outstanding. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Image stability is good.

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

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

I do not have any new comments about the quality of the lossless track. I suspect that when the 4K restoration was prepared, the audio received some enhancements as well. It is very healthy and, in my opinion, a little fuller and better rounded than that of the original Blu-ray release of Kind Hearts and Coronets, produced by StudioCanal in 2011.

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

4K BLU-RAY DISC

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

BLU-RAY DISC

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

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

• Dennis Price: Those British Faces - 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. (27 min).

• Interview with Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe - in this archival audio interview, cinematographer Douglas Slocombe recalls his collaboration with Robert Hamer on Kind Hearts and Coronets. Also, there are some interesting observations about the nature of the humor that emerges from its story. The interview was conducted by Sidney Cole in 1998. In English, not subtitled. (29 min).

• Alternate U.S. Ending - a slightly longer but less effective ending. In English, with optional German subtitles. (3 min).

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for Kind Hearts and Coronets. In English, not subtitled. (3 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 release offers a native 4K presentation of the recent 4K restoration of Kind Hearts and Coronets. It is included in Alec Guinness: Masterpiece Collection, a four-disc box set. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.