It is a pleasure just to listen to the English language spoken so well! As it often the case, British actors are such interesting personalities when the appear on interview shows they are really worth watching.
One of our greats and a true gent in every respect. My particular favourites of his include The Ladykillers, Bridge on the River Kwai, Great Expectations, Lavender Hill Mob and Doctor Zhivago. He really did deserve his knighthood Thanks for the memories Sir Alec ❤ 😊
What a great actor, truly amongst the best. I found him immensely humorous in these interviews and great at telling stories. I'm going to search out more of his output.
A GIANT of an actor, my particular favorites of his are ; The Lady killers, Bridge on the River Kwai , The Lavender hill mob, and Tinker Taylor soldier spy. Just a wonderful character actor, and a great presence on the screen
Don't forget : The Man in the White Suit ! Kind Hearts & Coronets ; even Little Dorrit ! (which is otherwise boring) but fascinating to watch because of Sir Alec Guinness.
I really liked him as Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations, his first film role. But truly, I like him in everything. One of the great actors of all time. A minimalist, who played most every role (Fagin excepted) with subtlety and understatement. And I LOVE his stories about observing and mimicking animals!
A utterly brilliant actor, very astute in my eye. Loved him in the Lady Killers… when Mrs Wilberforce opens her front door and the camera opens up to his face!.
This amazingly talented actor had so earned the right to be a Sir. Just his name Alec Guinness leaves me in awe. The first film of his I ever saw was "Kind hearts and Coronets", a masterpiece in itself. So many great films from a great actor. Thank you for sharing.
A brilliant character actor and a true gentleman. My particular favourites of his include Bridge on the River Kwai, Lavender Hill Mob, Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ladykillers. He had a fabulous presence on the screen and energy like no one else I've ever seen. God bless you Sir Alec ❤ 😊
When he mentioned James Dean, and his premonition..the voice. This has happened to me..in a different way...while walking in a local street, I suddenly heard a voice in my head 'You are more and meant for more. Looking back at me life I have realised that I in my humble way, have tried to help others..this includes animals. Even when I felt reluctant to, it was as if I just had to. It was a feeling, not a thought. My two marriages, the first dying of cancer, has always been about them..not me. Sorry if I have gone of script...Just had to tell it.
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams................
To think somebody is going to come along and discover his body of work and say!!!!, they cannot because he cannot be defined. His acting speaks for itself.
Legend, thank you for so many wonderful memories - way too many pictures/movies to mention that moved me, made me laugh, cry, angry, such a talented Gentleman. R.I.P. Sir Alex.
I first saw Alec Guiness as an 11 yo when he appeared in Star Wars.That was when I began watching his films.And have managed to accumalate quite a collection. To me,the most underrated of actors.An all-time great with so many great performances.The standouts? Two come to mind,his role as Professor Marcus in 'The Ladykillers" and his portrayal of Charles the First in 'Cromwell.' And there are plenty more.An absolute colossus of the silver screen.
@Michael Stephen thanks, just watched it ... if it’s so, he was so good an actor, because he had people watched from an early age .... likely for the purpose of survival.
There is something interesting about his face. It says so much about his modesty, symphatetic character and the nice person he was. Some of his movies in the fifties and early sixties were first-class like "Bridge Over River Quai".
I loved him in a Majority of One his character was wonderfully portrayed and it shows how bigotry existed and he and Rosalind Russell overcame their differences and a beautiful friendship in the end , priceless!
Cleaver and one of the greatest actor's in the 20 the century, and one of those actor's that made you believe he was who he was playing,and as a kid from the 70s will always be the first and best Jedi master.
What gets me about modern day actors is when the you on a chat show, and go into a self analysis of the character they are playing..Like, I see my charterer as a person who has had a troubled background..etc. I can understand an actor digging into his/her past to some event or person that can help them get the feel of the character they are playing.or an emotion. In the past, they just acted.
So easy to believe in His work,Fagin [Oliver Twist]the first film I actually viewed,My Mother had to hold down the seat,as I was really a Child [about 6 years old] and unable to hold the seat down,and get on it, in a Britain very grey,before television.etc,impressed and totally quiet,so could not have spoilt the film for anyone,He,like the rest of the cast,was superb,later the Ladykillers [American later effort, useless in comparison]and He never disappointed in any film!
It always bothered me that Alec Guinness did not like playing Obi Wan Kenobi. He thought science fiction was beneath him, but what really happened was science fiction was being raised up by his amazing acting. Science fiction came into it's own when technology caught up with the creativity.
A less mentioned Film from Sir Alec,"Kind Hearts and CORONETS" [1949] this is a critics review of it" The gentle English act of Murder in Ealing's blackest comedy,with PRICE in perfect form as the ignoble Louis,killing off a complete Family tree [played by Guinness throughout]in order to take the cherished D'Ascoyne family title.Disarmingly cool and callous in it's literary sophistication, admirably low key in it's discreet caricatures of the haute bourgeoisie,impeccable in it's period detail [Edwardian] it's a brilliantly cynical film without a hint of middle Class guilt or bitterness.My view? Price,who narrates,[ it's His story,is superb],how,why,these two were not teamed together in other films,escapes Me,the dialogue,and interplay between characters is also impressive,Sibella is well worth a mention, the entire cast are also flawless!
One of Sir Alec Guinness' most celebrated roles was as the criminal mastermind, Professor Marcus, who is thwarted by "Mrs Lop-Sided", in the last and best of the Ealing Comedies, "The Ladykillers",(1955). He took on the role after Alastair Sim turned it down. Once you know this it becomes clear where Guinness found his inspiration for the character. It was based on Sim himself.
I've done two things in theatre: trumpet in the pit orchestra for Gypsy, and I played the little boy, Danny, in Rally Round the Flag, Boys. I felt that pit orchestra was much more challenging and the actors got all the attention for doing something much easier. And the time we wasted - HOURS - always wasting the most time on the dumbest people in the room. Glad I had the experience. Would never do it again for less than a boatload of money.
Alec Guiness was famously mistrustful of Olivier, saying in his diary: "I greatly admired his extraordinary courage … as a comedian he was superb … technically brilliant … he was a great actor." "Like so many people whose ambition drive them to great eminence, he had a cruel and destructive streak. Side by side with his generosity, he could be unpleasant, possibly even vindictive. Consciously or not, he made attempts to destroy John G [Gielgud], [Michael] Redgrave, [Paul] Scofield and if he had been given the chance, me."
It's true that George Lucas probably didn't consider that aspect when he was writing the original SW script. However, we often soften information like that for young people who might not understand all the complexities of a situation. And, in a way, when Vader turned to the Dark Side, he did, in effect, 'kill' the young innocent Anakin we met in 'Phantom Menace'.
Alec Guinness belongs to a lost breed of actors that are long gone and very missed in films today, the style of films have changed and so has the acting. This is my opinion others may differ.
As English as they come. But a world wide gentleman and humanitarian. Too bad if he will be only remembered for Star Wars, which is pulp fiction puffed up with a massive budget.
![[Live] : ONE 169 วันนี้!! "อนาโตลี vs อูมาร์"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IK3YZVWuFJg/mqdefault.jpg)
It is a pleasure just to listen to the English language spoken so well! As it often the case, British actors are such interesting personalities when the appear on interview shows they are really worth watching.
One of our greats and a true gent in every respect. My particular favourites of his include The Ladykillers, Bridge on the River Kwai, Great Expectations, Lavender Hill Mob and Doctor Zhivago. He really did deserve his knighthood Thanks for the memories Sir Alec ❤ 😊
There will never be another Alec Guinness. God Bless this Great Thespian of the 20th Century we miss him.
A great, truly great and consummate actor and a wonderful humane, humble human being. God Bless..
What a great actor, truly amongst the best. I found him immensely humorous in these interviews and great at telling stories. I'm going to search out more of his output.
A GIANT of an actor, my particular favorites of his are ; The Lady killers, Bridge on the River Kwai , The Lavender hill mob, and Tinker Taylor soldier spy. Just a wonderful character actor, and a great presence on the screen
Chris Evans The Man in the White Flannel Suit!
Don't forget : The Man in the White Suit ! Kind Hearts & Coronets ; even Little Dorrit !
(which is otherwise boring) but fascinating to watch because of Sir Alec Guinness.
Star Wars brings me to tears
I really liked him as Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations, his first film role. But truly, I like him in everything. One of the great actors of all time. A minimalist, who played most every role (Fagin excepted) with subtlety and understatement. And I LOVE his stories about observing and mimicking animals!
A utterly brilliant actor, very astute in my eye.
Loved him in the Lady Killers… when Mrs Wilberforce opens her front door and the camera opens up to his face!.
This amazingly talented actor had so earned the right to be a Sir. Just his name Alec Guinness leaves me in awe. The first film of his I ever saw was "Kind hearts and Coronets", a masterpiece in itself. So many great films from a great actor. Thank you for sharing.
Jessica Johns/ just posted a critics estimation of Kind Hearts,in complete agreement with yourself,and Me both!
Sir Alec -- a first class gentleman who will be greatly missed. RIP
I can'r think of an actor (modern) of his caliber
A brilliant character actor and a true gentleman. My particular favourites of his include Bridge on the River Kwai, Lavender Hill Mob, Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ladykillers. He had a fabulous presence on the screen and energy like no one else I've ever seen. God bless you Sir Alec ❤ 😊
Fascinating program about this superb actor. Thank you so much for posting it here.
When he mentioned James Dean, and his premonition..the voice. This has happened to me..in a different way...while walking in a local street, I suddenly heard a voice in my head 'You are more and meant for more. Looking back at me life I have realised that I in my humble way, have tried to help others..this includes animals. Even when I felt reluctant to, it was as if I just had to. It was a feeling, not a thought. My two marriages, the first dying of cancer, has always been about them..not me. Sorry if I have gone of script...Just had to tell it.
Delightful, sir. Alec Guinness A true thespian an Actor's actor Never gave a bad performance🎭
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams................
To think somebody is going to come along and discover his body of work and say!!!!, they cannot because he cannot be defined. His acting speaks for itself.
Legend, thank you for so many wonderful memories - way too many pictures/movies to mention that moved me, made me laugh, cry, angry, such a talented Gentleman. R.I.P. Sir Alex.
I first saw Alec Guiness as an 11 yo when he appeared in Star Wars.That was when I began watching his films.And have managed to accumalate quite a collection.
To me,the most underrated of actors.An all-time great with so many great performances.The standouts? Two come to mind,his role as Professor Marcus in 'The Ladykillers" and his portrayal of Charles the First in 'Cromwell.'
And there are plenty more.An absolute colossus of the silver screen.
Cromwell in my opinion was very under appreciated! Guinness was excellent as King Charles!!
I agree wholeheartedly. An incredibly underestimated actor. The Ladykillers is one of my all time favourite films. The cast was sublime.
A man of spiritual and poetic depth.
This is most enlightening! Thank you so much for sharing this!
Fantastic actor” he was never out of character...fascinating person...note how he skipped to age 14.... no mention of a mother or any close family.
@Michael Stephen thanks, just watched it ... if it’s so, he was so good an actor, because he had people watched from an early age .... likely for the purpose of survival.
There is something interesting about his face. It says so much about his modesty, symphatetic character and the nice person he was. Some of his movies in the fifties and early sixties were first-class like "Bridge Over River Quai".
It's spelt kwai
I loved him in a Majority of One his character was wonderfully portrayed and it shows how bigotry existed and he and Rosalind Russell overcame their differences and a beautiful friendship in the end , priceless!
They don't make them like this anymore.
Alec Guiness - the epitome of Class.
He was also, all told (or untold), extremely good looking. True class.
I always liked Alec Guinness - all of his films are great !!!!
A consummate actor. Very intelligent very talented. A great great gentleman!!
Alec Guinness
operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.
Kevin Healey Thanks for that I never knew that at all.
He would have been 44yrs old, that's far too old to be in the military then.
I love The Card. I've watched it endlessly! What a dreamboat.
I had never seen it and then discovered it here on YT. Wonderful, truly wonderful discovering these gems.
I watch every single film SAG ever made and all the TV movies,plays,series etc.
Personallt, I think his best film was Tuned of Glory.
What a voice, what an actor
"Smiley's People" was the best in television! TYVM!
Cleaver and one of the greatest actor's in the 20 the century, and one of those actor's that made you believe he was who he was playing,and as a kid from the 70s will always be the first and best Jedi master.
Thank you for posting this Mr Pollen
My favourite Smiley of all time.
What gets me about modern day actors is when the you on a chat show, and go into a self analysis of the character they are playing..Like, I see my charterer as a person who has had a troubled background..etc. I can understand an actor digging into his/her past to some event or person that can help them get the feel of the character they are playing.or an emotion. In the past, they just acted.
Love him!!! Seems like a great guy as well as a great actor!!!
So easy to believe in His work,Fagin [Oliver Twist]the first film I actually viewed,My Mother had to hold down the seat,as I was really a Child [about 6 years old] and unable to hold the seat down,and get on it, in a Britain very grey,before television.etc,impressed and totally quiet,so could not have spoilt the film for anyone,He,like the rest of the cast,was superb,later the Ladykillers [American later effort, useless in comparison]and He never disappointed in any film!
Love this actor!!
He was my step Father's first Cousin.
I remember him well from meeting him repeatedly in the 1970's
Lucky you! He seems like he was a thoughtful. intelligent, and kindly man.
It always bothered me that Alec Guinness did not like playing Obi Wan Kenobi. He thought science fiction was beneath him, but what really happened was science fiction was being raised up by his amazing acting. Science fiction came into it's own when technology caught up with the creativity.
Would be fascinating a bio on Martita Hunt. What a character. "Great Expectations" so perfect. very funny in "Anastasia" and brilliant in "Becket."
Great British Actor!!!!.
The Captain's Paradise was a great film, and nobody ever mentions it as a favorite.
R.I.P. TO SIR ALEC GUNIESS- SUPER GREAT ACTOR LOVED ALL HIS MOVIES !!! " THE LADY KILLERS " COME TO MIND ! GREATLY MISSED ! FROM U.K. 2022).
I and my Mother, loved him in "A Majority of One" ,and Obi Wan in Star Wars !
Brilliant actor. One of my most favorite and beloved.
WOW. Just WOW.
A less mentioned Film from Sir Alec,"Kind Hearts and CORONETS" [1949] this is a critics review of it" The gentle English act of Murder in Ealing's blackest comedy,with PRICE in perfect form as the ignoble Louis,killing off a complete Family tree [played by Guinness throughout]in order to take the cherished D'Ascoyne family title.Disarmingly cool and callous in it's literary sophistication, admirably low key in it's discreet caricatures of the haute bourgeoisie,impeccable in it's period detail [Edwardian] it's a brilliantly cynical film without a hint of middle Class guilt or bitterness.My view? Price,who narrates,[ it's His story,is superb],how,why,these two were not teamed together in other films,escapes Me,the dialogue,and interplay between characters is also impressive,Sibella is well worth a mention, the entire cast are also flawless!
Excellent post.
He certainly was David Lean's favorite actor. My favorite is The Scapegoat.
One of Sir Alec Guinness' most celebrated roles was as the criminal mastermind, Professor Marcus, who is thwarted by "Mrs Lop-Sided", in the last and best of the Ealing Comedies, "The Ladykillers",(1955). He took on the role after Alastair Sim turned it down. Once you know this it becomes clear where Guinness found his inspiration for the character. It was based on Sim himself.
I like him best in as the Earl in Little Lord Fauntleroy. Makes me cry every time.
A great actor
Замечательный актёр и очень добрый и милый человек. Светлая ему память.
They don't make them like this talented gentlemen anymore!
Marvellous memories
Love him dearly.
The greatest British actor ever!!!
Now he was an actor
King of the movies and the stage
Sir Alex put in a fine performance as Yoda in Star Trek. It's such a pity he hated the role.
He did not mind the salary, though.
Tunes of gloery. A classic.
Bailiff basher Enjoyed watching that one
Number 1 British actor for me...humble actor...
A gentle man from a more gentle age.
Marvelous actor , was he...
first class actor
Greatest actor ever
Thanks
Amazing stories on how He watched animals in the Zoo to get Inspiration 💙💙
I love this man xxxxxxxxx
RIP
It’s Bridge ON the River Kwai.
I've done two things in theatre: trumpet in the pit orchestra for Gypsy, and I played the little boy, Danny, in Rally Round the Flag, Boys. I felt that pit orchestra was much more challenging and the actors got all the attention for doing something much easier. And the time we wasted - HOURS - always wasting the most time on the dumbest people in the room. Glad I had the experience. Would never do it again for less than a boatload of money.
Bravo’
Alec Guiness was famously mistrustful of Olivier, saying in his diary: "I greatly admired his extraordinary courage … as a comedian he was superb … technically brilliant … he was a great actor." "Like so many people whose ambition drive them to great eminence, he had a cruel and destructive streak. Side by side with his generosity, he could be unpleasant, possibly even vindictive. Consciously or not, he made attempts to destroy John G [Gielgud], [Michael] Redgrave, [Paul] Scofield and if he had been given the chance, me."
That Star Wars clip shows that Vader couldn't have been Luke's father. OB1 had known and instructed him BEFORE he became Vader.
It's true that George Lucas probably didn't consider that aspect when he was writing the original SW script. However, we often soften information like that for young people who might not understand all the complexities of a situation. And, in a way, when Vader turned to the Dark Side, he did, in effect, 'kill' the young innocent Anakin we met in 'Phantom Menace'.
Alec Guinness belongs to a lost breed of actors that are long gone and very missed in films today, the style of films have changed and so has the acting. This is my opinion others may differ.
That James Dean story...wtf!?!
When was this interview made?
Sargent Major Bray is NOT EMMA FATHER. HE IS MY DAD. AND Emma is my daughter and so is Sarah
As English as they come. But a world wide gentleman and humanitarian. Too bad if he will be only remembered for Star Wars, which is pulp fiction puffed up with a massive budget.
language matters
Obi wan!
Stole the show from Larry O doing Shakespeare in the l940s. Larry never forgot that.
RIP Ben kenobi
a fool
Why?