When his mother eloped with an Italian opera singer, Louis Mazzini was cut off from her aristocratic family. After the family refuses to let her be buried in the family mausoleum, Louis avenges his mother’s death by attempting to murder every family member who stands between himself and the family fortune. But when he finds himself torn between his longtime love and the widow of one of his victims, his plans go awry.

Considered by many to be the crowning achievement of Britain’s Ealing Studios, this sparkling black comedy follows the story of Louis Mazzini (Dennis Price), a disowned aristocrat who seeks to reclaim his family’s dukedom by eliminating the eight relatives of the D’Ascoyne family who stand in his way. Alec Guinness shines in a tour-de-force performance as each of the D’Ascoynes, making the most of the film’s wonderfully acerbic script and darkly humorous tone. It’s no wonder the film frequently appears on lists of the greatest British films ever made. What are you waiting for? -TORONTO FILM SOCIETY