The Ladykillers (1955)
Sometimes it isn’t until you see a true cinematic classic that you realize how clichés in modern film first evolved. In this William Rose masterpiece, we’re treated to stellar performances from Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers (among others), but the true star of the film is the indomitable Katie Johnson as Mrs. Wilberforce, a retired older woman running a decrepit rooming house above the great coal railways of early industrial England. A clan of bank robbers let one of her rooms to plan and execute a flawless heist, only to fall prey to her insufferable piety and an uncanny string of bad luck. The film was remade in 2004 by the Coen Brothers, but like so many of these great early films, something tangible was lost in translation. If you even remotely enjoy comedy, this gem is definitely worth a few hours of your time.