Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Kind Hearts and Coronets Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 3, 2019

Robert Hamer's "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy StudioCanal. The supplemental features on the disc include new 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-B "locked".

Man on a mission

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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Robert Hamer's Kind Hearts and Coronets arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of StudioCanal.

The release is sourced from a brand new 16-bit 4K restoration that was undertaken by the BFI and finalized at Silver Salt Restoration. The previous release of the film was sourced from a 2K restoration. I did some direct comparisons between the two releases and below I will highlight what I consider to be the most meaningful discrepancies.

First, on the new release the film has noticeably better density levels. Some very minor fluctuations remain, but I think that folks with larger screens, or projectors, will immediately appreciate the improvement. However, the overall depth of the visuals is a bit of a mixed bag. The reason for this is the grading job, which is a tad too aggressive for my taste. For example, in areas where the higher quality scan should have ensured better nuances and highlights often there is loss of detail. It is not a major flaw because there is still plenty that looks very good, but trained eyes will easily recognize that a more careful grading would have ensured superior, meaning better nuanced, visuals. (To get a general idea about the type of discrepancy that exists, compare screecapture #1 with the corresponding screencapture from our review of the first release). Grain is slightly better exposed, but I did not have a problem with the way the previous release looked. I believe that some stability enhancements have been made because I see that some frame transitions are better; there are other smaller stability enhancements as well. There are no traces of sharpening enhancements. Also, after viewing the entire film my impression is that additional minor age-imperfections that existed on the previous release have been eliminated. All in all, I think that the only area where the end result isn't entirely convincing is the grading. As it is, the black levels appear a tad more prominent as they need to be and either flatten or eliminate some smaller nuances. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Kind Hearts and Coronets Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 and German LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH and German subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I don't know if the new 4K restoration also covered the audio. However, I think that the overall balance of the lossless track here is slightly better. Clarity is very good. There are no age-related anomalies, and the upper register actually seems very strong now.

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

• 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, with optional German subtitles. (45 min).

• Introduction - a short introduction to Kind Hearts and Coronets by John Landis. In English, with optional German subtitles. (3 min).

• Commentary - 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.

• 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, with optional German subtitled. (26 min).

• Alternate U.S. Ending - a slightly longer but less effective ending. In English, with optional German subtitles. (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, with optional German subtitles. (10 min).

• Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery -

• Costume Stills Gallery -

• Booklet - 48-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by Matthew Sweet, excerpts from a photocopied early version of the script for Kind Hearts and Coronets, vintage promotional materials, reviews, and more.

• Art Cards - five collectible art cards.

• Poster - a large poster for the film.

Kind Hearts and Coronets 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. (By the way, this makes the new warning on the Blu-ray that the film may be offensive to some viewers pretty bizarre because it literally cannot be any more British, and in a very classy 'classic' way). StudioCanal's release is sourced from a new 4K restoration, which is good, but I think that with a slightly more careful grading job it could have been perfect. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.