There’s something about old ladies… I can’t stand them! – The Ladykillers

This Autumn, The Garden Cinema is celebrating Ealing Comedies! 

Every Wednesday, from October 25th and all the way to November, we will be screening a quintessential Ealing Comedy, followed by a discussion group in The Garden Cinema’s cosy den. 

Grazia Ingravalle [QMUL] and Lawrence Napper [KCL] will be taking turns diving into The Ladykillers, Hue and Cry, The Man in the White Suit, Kind Hearts and Coronets, and Passport to Pimlico. They will be touching on the humour, political undertones, and lovable eccentricity of films that have made a mark on film history and are still admired by cinephiles worldwide. We will discuss Ealing’s depiction of communities and Britishness, light-hearted conservatism and gender stereotypes all the while revelling in their tongue-in-cheek comedy. 

Ealing comedies had a knack for showcasing actors who would eventually become household names. Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Margaret Rutherford, Stanley Holloway, Joan Greenwood, and others got their start in Ealing comedies.

We will launch on 25 October with an Ealing Comedies inspired members’ party, followed by a screening of The Ladykillers, and a panel discussion between Grazia Ingravalle and Lawrence Napper to introduce Ealing Comedies and the season’s format. The evening will culminate with drinks in our plush cinema bar, where Lawrence and Grazia will informally discuss The Ladykillers with you over a dedicated Ealing Comedy cocktail.

Let’s start the fun!