Alec Guinness was an English actor whose films included Oliver Twist, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Man in the White Suit, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Ladykillers, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Our Man in Havana, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago, Star Wars, A Passage to India and Little Dorrit.
| Alec Guinness: A Class Act | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Brian O'Flaherty |
| Produced by | Eoghan Burke |
| Starring | Simon Callow Sinéad Cusack Tom Courtenay Sally Guinness Jeremy Irons |
| Cinematography | Anthony Brown |
| Edited by | Olivier Stockman |
| Music by | Hugh Drumm |
| Distributed by | Sky Studios 2024 |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
The documentary tells the story of Guinness' career in the entertainment industry from the stage, including his 1934 performance at the Playhouse Theatre and his work in Shakespearean theatre, to the cinema, where he won an Oscar for The Bridge on the River Kwai, and gained widespread fame for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars.
The story is told by family, friends and peers, and also using Guinness's own words from interviews and voice recordings.
The film was recorded at Sands Films studios in Rotherhithe, London.
Cast
edit- Peter Beale
- Simon Callow
- Tom Courtenay
- Sinéad Cusack
- Vernon Dobtcheff
- Christine Edzard
- Stephen Frears
- Julian Glover
- Richard Goodwin
- Alec Guinness (archive footage)
- Sally Guinness
- Jeremy Irons
- John Irvin
- Michael Jayston
- Miriam Margolyes
- Joanna McCallum
- Piers Paul Reid
- Madeleine Smith
- David Wilkinson
Reception
editThe Guardian wrote: “A densely-packed biography” [1]
TV Everyday describes the documentary as “engaging”, “a heartfelt exploration of his legacy”, and “a must-watch for fans of cinema and anyone interested in the stories of those who shaped the acting world”. [2]
According to Radio Times, the documentary is: “A rewarding dive into one of the great acting careers, with a string of warm contributors and good anecdotes.” [3]
The Times said: “Splendid.” [4]
References
edit- ^ Searle, Jack (3 September 2024). "Alec Guinness: A Class Act". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ Wood, Ashley. "Alec Guinness: A Class Act airs September 2 2024 on Sky Arts". TV Everyday. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Butcher, David (3 September 2024). "Alec Guinness: A Class Act". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "The 44 best shows on Sky and Now to watch in November 2024". The Times. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
External Links
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