#328. Alec Guinness

When it comes to acting, the Shakespearian actor is often seen as the epitome of the profession. Being able to bring the Bard’s work to life on the stage requires a vast amount of skill and talent if it is to be done correctly. While many of these actors will remain in this highest form of thespian art, some take their skills to other mediums. Of course, because of this Shakespearian background, many of these actors who do start to perform in movies are quite selective about the films they decide to make. Often, they will stick to Shakespearian adaptations, since that’s mostly what they already know. But sometimes, the allure of a nice, big paycheck can get these actors to perform in pieces they do not fully endorse. This week’s two films highlight some moments from Shakespearian actor Alec Guinness’ career.

Doctor Zhivago
Year: 1965
Rating: Approved
Length: 197 minutes / 3.28 hours

Alec Guinness’ acting talent is undeniable, which is at least in part due to his regular collaboration with director David Lean. Even with supporting roles in films like Great Expectations (1946), Oliver Twist (1948), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), and A Passage to India (1984), the combination of the British actor and British director worked well. They would both would win an Academy Award for Best Director and Actor, respectively, for their work on The Bridge on the River Kwai (1958). Of course, this was only five years after Guinness was nominated for Best Actor for his work in The Lavender Hill Mob (1951). He even won an honorary Oscar in 1980 “For advancing the art of screen acting through a host of memorable and distinguished performances.” While he would be nominated for Best Supporting Actor twice in his career, he really made his mark in his supporting roles like in Doctor Zhivago.

Years after the Russian Revolution that brought communism into power, General Yevgraf Zhivago (Alec Guinness) is using his military connections to find his niece, the daughter of his half-brother, Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif). When he finds a young woman he believes to fit the description, he tells her of her parents’ lives. While Yevgraf was always a military man, Yuri was a poet in the body of a doctor. Through the events of an attack on a peaceful demonstration, Yuri first meets Lara (Julie Christie). When World War I arrives, Yevgraf is sent to fight while Yuri and Lara work for the army as doctor and nurse, respectively, and fall in love. After wars and revolutions pass, Yevgraf now works for the communist military and warns Yuri that his poetry is now condemned by the new regime. After getting Yuri to safety, Yevgraf finds that his half-brother’s poetry affected many people, albeit years later.

Star Wars: A New Hope
Year: 1977
Rating: PG
Length: 121 minutes / 2.02 hours

Do actors have regrets? Sure they do, and Alec Guinness is no different. While he praised the special effects and technical aspects of Star Wars (1977), he absolutely hated the dialogue (amongst other factors). Even though the film netted him his first Best Supporting Actor nomination, Guinness loathed that it was essentially the only film most people knew him from. Because of his hesitations, he was quite the shrewd businessman and managed to get a sizeable payday and a good chunk of the royalties for his work on the film. Always the professional actor, he did the part and interacted with everyone involved courteously, despite regretting the attention he received after the films entered into the realm of “fandom.” In fact, Guinness himself wanted his character killed off in the first film so he wouldn’t have to play him as much in the later parts of the franchise.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) is an old hermit who lives in the remote areas of the desert planet Tatooine. One day, he finds a familiar droid by the name of R2-D2 and learns that the Rebel Alliance, led by Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), needs his help to get the plans of a devastating weapon to their headquarters on Alderaan. Deciding to comply with Leia’s request, he also enlists the help of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who initially found R2-D2 and is the son of his former protégé, Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones). Upon chartering a ride to Alderaan on the Millennium Falcon, the sudden disappearance of the planet causes them to be captured by the Galactic Empire on the Death Star. Kenobi allows the Falcon to escape, but at the cost of his life. Now that the Rebels have the Death Star plans, Luke sets out to assist them in destroying the moon-sized weapon.

2 sum it up: 2 films, 2 great Alec Guinness performances

Bacon #: 2 (Kafka / Theresa Russell -> Wild Things / Kevin Bacon)