Curio: The Storied Career of Alec Guinness
Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 10:00AM Alexa here to wish a Happy Centennial to Alec Guinness. Born 100 years ago today to a single mother in London, Guinness' theatre career began in his 20s. It wasn't until after he served in the Royal Navy in World War II that his film career began in earnest, and soon he was playing eight roles in one movie (Kind Hearts and Coronets). One of his six famously tempestuous collaborations with David Lean, The Bridge on the River Kwai, got him his Oscar for Best Actor, although he was nominated four other times (even for Best Screenplay) and he received an honorary Oscar in 1980. The geeks know him as Obi-Wan, but for me he will forever be Professor Marcus from The Ladykillers (a little obsession of mine).
Here are some vintage curios to celebrate his career in film
This original UK poster is available for a pretty penny on ebay.
Academy Award winner portrait available here.
German poster for Kind Hearts and Coronets, available here.
"Blessings in Disguise" Alec Guinness wrote his memoirs in 1985
Spanish poster for The Swan, available here.
Original 12-inch Obi-Wan doll in the box! Bid here.
Vintage Obi-Wan tankard mug. Bid here.
Reader Comments (8)
loooved him on murder by death as the blind butler, what a fun movie that was
george -- i loved that movie as a kid too but i remember not one second of it as an adult. i should probably revisit.
go watch it NOW! it also stars a young maggie smith, so you know its goona be good :D
EVERYONE's in that movie. It's silly and fun!
I think I read somewhere that Guinness wasn't very impressed with Star Wars, but did acknowledge that it set him and his descendents up for life.
"I smell gas."
"I can't help it, I'm old."
"Not that kind of gas. The kind that can kill you."
"Well, my gas can kill you too!"
I love that Blessings in Disguise cover!!
Oh, that's tacky! That's REALLY tacky!
so many great quotes
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