Alexander Mackendrick

The Ealing Comedies or Kind Hearts and Overdrafts

Harry Hastings

Frank Muir, Joan Greenwood

The story of the men and women who produced a series of film comedies that were so original and funny that they put Ealing on the map.

Sweet Smell of Success

Alexander Mackendrick

Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis

New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.

The Ladykillers

Alexander Mackendrick

Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker

Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.

Mandy

Alexander Mackendrick

Phyllis Calvert, Jack Hawkins

London, the early 1950s. Born deaf, Mandy is mute for most of her childhood. As she reaches school age her family itself is in danger of breaking up. Christine, Mandy's mother, has heard of a residential school for the oral education of the deaf.

The Man in the White Suit

Alexander Mackendrick

Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood

The unassuming, nebbishy inventor Sidney Stratton creates a miraculous fabric that will never be dirty or worn out. Clearly he can make a fortune selling clothes made of the material, but may cause a crisis in the process. After all, once someone buys one of his suits they won't ever have to fix them or buy another one, and the clothing industry will collapse overnight. Nevertheless, Sidney is determined to put his invention on the market, forcing the clothing factory bigwigs to resort to more desperate measures...

Whisky Galore!

Alexander Mackendrick

Basil Radford, Bruce Seton

Based on a true story. The name of the real ship, that sunk Feb 5 1941 - during WWII - was S/S Politician. Having left Liverpool two days earlier, heading for Jamaica, it sank outside Eriskay, The Outer Hebrides, Scotland, in bad weather, containing 250,000 bottles of whisky. The locals gathered as many bottles as they could, before the proper authorities arrived, and even today, bottles are found in the sand or in the sea every other year.

Sammy Going South

Alexander Mackendrick

Edward G. Robinson, Fergus McClelland

After he is orphaned by an air raid on Port Said during the Suez Crisis, a young boy attempts to go by himself from the Suez Canal to Durban in South Africa where his nearest relative, Aunt Jane, lives. On the way he meets a variety of different people who help or hinder his journey - including an ageing diamond smuggler.

The Maggie

Alexander Mackendrick

Paul Douglas, Alex Mackenzie

The poor, elderly—and the wily, when it comes to parting those who can afford it from their money—Scottish skipper of a broken-down old 'puffer' boat tricks an American tycoon into paying him to transport his personal cargo. When the tycoon learns of the trick, he attempts to track down the boat and remove his possessions.

Made In Ealing: The Story of Ealing Studios

T. E. B. Clarke, Charles Crichton

Documentary about the British film studio. First appeared on the BBC television programme Omnibus.

Typically British: A Personal History of British Cinema

Stephen Frears, Mike Dibb

Stephen Frears, Alexander Mackendrick

Stephen Frears and a quartet of film industry notables - representing different cinematic periods - drink tea and discuss ups and downs of British cinema.

A High Wind in Jamaica

Alexander Mackendrick

Anthony Quinn, James Coburn

In 1870, a Jamaican colonial family sends its children to Britain for proper schooling, but their ship is taken over by pirates, who become fond of the kids.

Mackendrick: The Man Who Walked Away

Dermot McQuarrie

Burt Lancaster, John Milius

This 1986 documentary features interviews with director Alexander Mackendrick, actor Burt Lancaster, producer James Hill, and others.

Don't Make Waves

Alexander Mackendrick

Tony Curtis, Claudia Cardinale

New Yorker Carlo Cofield goes on a vacation to Southern California, where he quickly becomes immersed in the easy-going local culture while getting entangled in two beachside romances.

Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad

Richard Quine, Alexander Mackendrick

Rosalind Russell, Robert Morse

A woman brings her son and husband to a tropical vacation spot for a little rest and relaxation. The only problem is that the husband has been dead for quite some time, and his wife had him stuffed and carries him everywhere with her. Complications ensue.