MovieChat Forums > The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) Discussion > Overrated

Overrated

posted 16 years ago by manchester_england2004
5 replies | jump to latest

I'm sorry folks but I just find this film to be massively overrated. It's often compared to THE LADYKILLERS, but I find that film to be infinitely superior to this one. Admittedly the film may have the similar plotline of a gang plotting to steal something, in this case gold bars as opposed to money, but the similarities with THE LADYKILLERS end right there.

There are so many faults with THE LAVENDER HILL MOB. I could name a few - Stanley Holloway looks lost, Sid James disappears half way through the film (with no explanation), the ending is ridiculous and there are dozens of characters listed in the credits who do virtually nothing at all (and many of whom I don't remember or can't identify). And that last point is the most important - I consider nothing to be worse than a film containing people who I can't identify.

After reading so many good reviews of the film, I had high expectations but was very disappointed when I decided to check what the fuss was all about.

[–] seahawk3133 10 years ago

Without a question

A decent movie, worth watching - but far from great or overly memorable (even though I did like the idea of making the gold into trinkets).

6 / 10

[–] Prismark10 9 years ago

Having recently watched it I had to revise my rating downwards. The plot is rather slight.

Its that man again!!

[–] CharlesTheBold 8 years ago

Stanley Holloway looks lost,
==================
That's just your opinion of how he looks

Sid James disappears half way through the film (with no explanation)
=======================
His wife didn't want him going to Paris, so he stayed behind in England. Holland and Pendlebury were too busy tracking down the lost trinkets to look him up again.

the ending is ridiculous
=====================
In what way? This is supposed to be a comedy with a goofy ending.

and there are dozens of characters listed in the credits who do virtually nothing at all (and many of whom I don't remember or can't identify). And that last point is the most important - I consider nothing to be worse than a film containing people who I can't identify.
========================
Presumably bank employees, policemen, customs officials, schoolgirls, more policemen, and people at that Rio restaurant. Lots of extras and the film gave them credit (maybe in lieu of pay) . Why be irritated by that?

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

I consider nothing to be worse than a film containing people who I can't identify.

You can't be serious?🐭

[–] FootOfDavros (6719) a year ago

Absolutely agree with the points made here.

The Ladykillers is fully deserving of it's classic status but this, whilst entertaining to an extent, just has too many issues.

The set up and execution of their plan was fun and believable but the daft chasing up of school kids' statue - right down to the last one, chasing the kid into the Police exhibition no less! - kind of brought it down a notch for me.

Sure I appreciate it's meant to be something of a farce but the juxtaposition against the earlier meticulous plotting just irritated me.

An ok film of it's time but no classic...