Comparison to Coen Brothers version
The old Ealing black comedy about robbers who are unable to murder an old lady who is their only link with the crime became a genuine classic in years. Although it seems a bit naive today, it didn't lose the charm. It is well-paced peace that use the minimalist type of humor; you probably won't laugh aloud, but you'll have a constant smile in the corner of your lips. The cast is brilliant, the screenplay is very good – but some scenes just seems so unrealistic today, like the one that old lady bugs the grocery salesman and the one where she insists on returning the money and they try to talk her out of it; the professor in the modern version at least offered her a part of the loot to keep her mouth shut.
Coen brothers moved the scene to the south of USA and they did a fair job, although it is one of their worst movies. Another plus in Coen's favor is Tom Hanks who made a great performance playing sweet-talking southern professor despite the fact he copied Guinness in some character elements than gave a totally new portrait, but the original just have more style and much more quality in general.
Movie remakes compared to original
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