Alec Guinness, May the Force Be with You!
Apr 6, 2019 18:48:15 GMT
politicidal, Nalkarj, and 7 more like this
Post by teleadm on Apr 6, 2019 18:48:15 GMT
The reluctant star of British movies who became an international star, a man of many masks. He loved acting but disliked the fame of being recognised.
He was the illigitimate son who did good, but the force was behind him, even if he didn't know about it.
Little Alec Guinness de Cuffe was born in early April 1914, on Guinness's birth certificate, the space for the mother's name shows Agnes de Cuffe. The space for the infant's name (where first names only are given) says Alec Guinness. The column for name and surname of father is blank, the identity of Guinness's father has never been officially confirmed. Guinness himself believed that his father was a Scottish banker, since someone from Scotland payed for his education.
His first job in the theatre was on his 20th birthday, while he was still a drama student, in the play Libel, which opened at the old King's Theatre in Hammersmith. As an understudy his salary was to £1 a week. An early influence was film star Stan Laurel, whom Guinness admired.
During those early years he also made his movie debut, as an extra in the popular Evelyn Laye musical movie Evensong 1934.
Guinness served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in the Second World War, initially as a seaman in 1941, before receiving a commission as a Temporary Sub-lieutenant on 30 April 1942 and a promotion to Temporary Lieutenant the following year.
After WWII Guinness returned to the Old Vic in 1946, and continued playing Shakespearean roles throughout his life at other theatres around the English speaking world.
In 1959, he was knighted by Elizabeth II for services to the arts. Thus becoming a Sir!
In 1938 he married Merula Salaman, a playwright, a marriage that lasted until Guinness left us.
First credited movie role as Harry Pockets as a grown up in Great Expectations 1946, with John Mills as Pip
Putting the Fagin make-up on for Oliver Twist 1948.
Playing seven D'Ascoyne's in Kind Hearts and Coronets 1949
From this movie he made the transition from Shakespearean theatre actor to blockbuster movie star immediately.
As Disraeli in The Mudlark 1950
The nearly successful coup of the century, The Lavender Hill Mob 1951. Guinness first Oscar nomination out of five
The Man in the White Suit 1951
The Card aka The Promoter 1952
The Captain's Paradise 1953, with Celia Johnson
Malta Story 1953
Father Brown aka The Detective 1954, based on G. K. Chesterton character.
The Prisoner 1955, based on Croatian cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, and his brainwashing and opposition against communism in East Europe.
The Ladykillers 1956, he based his character on fellow actor Alastair Sim
The Swan 1956, Guinness first movie made in Hollywood, with Grace Kelly
The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957, earning an Oscar Award
Barnacle Bill aka All at Sea 1957
1958, Guinness only credited screenwriting.
The Scapegoat 1959, with Bette Davis
Our Man in Havana 1959, with Maureen O'Hara
Tunes of Glory 1960
A Majority of One 1961, with Rosalind Russell, maybe a bit odd today playing ethnical characters.
H.M.S. Defiant aka Damn the Defiant 1962
Lawrence of Arabia 1962
The Fall of the Roman Empire 1964
Doctor Zhivago 1965
Hotel Paradiso 1966, with Gina Lollobrigida
As the doomed King Charles in Cromwell 1970
As Marley's ghost in Scrooge 1970
As Pope Innocent III in Brother Sun, Sister Moon 1972
As that man in Hitler: The Last Ten Days 1973
As the Blind Butler in Murder by Death 1976
As Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars 1977, it has been discussed if he disliked it or not, he was uncomfortable to have sudden teen fans, but he did after all return to make additional scenes in the next two chapters. "May the Force Be With You"
A Passage to India 1984, the last movie he did with David Lean.
Little Dorrit 1988, once again back in Dickens territory
Sir Alec Guinness acted in over 60 movies and television productions, far from all of them has been mentioned in this post.
He left us in early August 2000, aged 86.
Thanks for watching this long post!!
All kinds of posts and reactions are as always very very welcome!
but have a pint of Guinness first, maybe
He was the illigitimate son who did good, but the force was behind him, even if he didn't know about it.
Little Alec Guinness de Cuffe was born in early April 1914, on Guinness's birth certificate, the space for the mother's name shows Agnes de Cuffe. The space for the infant's name (where first names only are given) says Alec Guinness. The column for name and surname of father is blank, the identity of Guinness's father has never been officially confirmed. Guinness himself believed that his father was a Scottish banker, since someone from Scotland payed for his education.
His first job in the theatre was on his 20th birthday, while he was still a drama student, in the play Libel, which opened at the old King's Theatre in Hammersmith. As an understudy his salary was to £1 a week. An early influence was film star Stan Laurel, whom Guinness admired.
During those early years he also made his movie debut, as an extra in the popular Evelyn Laye musical movie Evensong 1934.
Guinness served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in the Second World War, initially as a seaman in 1941, before receiving a commission as a Temporary Sub-lieutenant on 30 April 1942 and a promotion to Temporary Lieutenant the following year.
After WWII Guinness returned to the Old Vic in 1946, and continued playing Shakespearean roles throughout his life at other theatres around the English speaking world.
In 1959, he was knighted by Elizabeth II for services to the arts. Thus becoming a Sir!
In 1938 he married Merula Salaman, a playwright, a marriage that lasted until Guinness left us.
First credited movie role as Harry Pockets as a grown up in Great Expectations 1946, with John Mills as Pip
Putting the Fagin make-up on for Oliver Twist 1948.
Playing seven D'Ascoyne's in Kind Hearts and Coronets 1949
From this movie he made the transition from Shakespearean theatre actor to blockbuster movie star immediately.
As Disraeli in The Mudlark 1950
The nearly successful coup of the century, The Lavender Hill Mob 1951. Guinness first Oscar nomination out of five
The Man in the White Suit 1951
The Card aka The Promoter 1952
The Captain's Paradise 1953, with Celia Johnson
Malta Story 1953
Father Brown aka The Detective 1954, based on G. K. Chesterton character.
The Prisoner 1955, based on Croatian cardinal Aloysius Stepinac, and his brainwashing and opposition against communism in East Europe.
The Ladykillers 1956, he based his character on fellow actor Alastair Sim
The Swan 1956, Guinness first movie made in Hollywood, with Grace Kelly
The Bridge on the River Kwai 1957, earning an Oscar Award
Barnacle Bill aka All at Sea 1957
1958, Guinness only credited screenwriting.
The Scapegoat 1959, with Bette Davis
Our Man in Havana 1959, with Maureen O'Hara
Tunes of Glory 1960
A Majority of One 1961, with Rosalind Russell, maybe a bit odd today playing ethnical characters.
H.M.S. Defiant aka Damn the Defiant 1962
Lawrence of Arabia 1962
The Fall of the Roman Empire 1964
Doctor Zhivago 1965
Hotel Paradiso 1966, with Gina Lollobrigida
As the doomed King Charles in Cromwell 1970
As Marley's ghost in Scrooge 1970
As Pope Innocent III in Brother Sun, Sister Moon 1972
As that man in Hitler: The Last Ten Days 1973
As the Blind Butler in Murder by Death 1976
As Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars 1977, it has been discussed if he disliked it or not, he was uncomfortable to have sudden teen fans, but he did after all return to make additional scenes in the next two chapters. "May the Force Be With You"
A Passage to India 1984, the last movie he did with David Lean.
Little Dorrit 1988, once again back in Dickens territory
Sir Alec Guinness acted in over 60 movies and television productions, far from all of them has been mentioned in this post.
He left us in early August 2000, aged 86.
Thanks for watching this long post!!
All kinds of posts and reactions are as always very very welcome!
but have a pint of Guinness first, maybe
for the intro to these films !
