Sir Alec Guinness Dies

Gord writes: "The BBC is reporting (at least on the radio, can't see it on the Web site yet), that Sir Alec Guinness passed away Saturday night (9:50pm GMT) after been taken to hospital last Thursday. He will be most remembered by me as Obi-Wan in the original Star Wars movies, but he also acted in many other movies and he will be sorely missed." Update: 08/07 11:26 AM by E : Here's the story from BBC online.

Comments

Some of his work other than Star Wars

[Apotsy]

This is very sad indeed. I imagine many people will not remember Sir Alec simply as "Obi-Wan", although that will always come to mind for Star Wars fans, but rather for his roles in movies like The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia, which were both directed by one of the finest film directors who ever lived, the late Sir David Lean (another knighted Englishman).

If you haven't seen them, do yourself a favor and check those two movies out. Of course, Sir Alec was also a prominent stage actor as well, but you can't go back and look at those performances unless someone filmed or videotaped them. The movies will likely be his most lasting legacy.

Truth about Alec Guiness

[american_bongo]

I heard he faked his death just so he could murder Mark Hamill without being found. He's a clever old fuck, isn't he?

Re:I agree.

[edhall]

Well, I don't agree. Remembering someone's life upon occasion of their death is hardly "wallowing." If it seems that way to you then I have to wonder just how much meaning life has for you.

When someone famous dies, it is an opportunity for us to reflect on our own accomplishments and mortality. From such reflection derives wisdom. If you don't know or care enough about Alec Guinness' life to reflect on where it touches you own, that's fine. Just show a bit of respect for those of us who do.

Sir Alec earned his fame, and you might find it worthwhile someday to investigate how and why. Until then, leave those who wish to celebrate and memorialize his life and its connection to our own lives free to do so without your churlish comments.

-Ed

I agree.

[TheDullBlade]

I, actually, am not saddened by his death. Many thousands of people die every day, and I'm not particularly moved by the passing of some guy who once participated in making a product I liked. Probably dozens of such people die every day. Unlike many of the people dying every day, this one had a good full life. What more can you ask for than to be rich and famous and live to a ripe old age? (well, I'm sure many of us would like to become the immortal overlord of all the universe, but probably only one of us will)

There are a lot of good stories that get passed up, but this one goes up so we can wallow in the death of a stranger? Now that makes me sad.

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Despite rumors to the contrary, I am not a turnip.

Re:Guinness didn't want to be remembered for Obi W

[MattXVI]

It wasn't the script, which he rightly called "complete rubbish". It was that he was getting older, and parts are harder to come by later in age.

He was never made wealthy by all the famous roles, like in Lawrence of Arabia and Zhivago. Playing Obi-Wan gave him a lot more remuneration than he was accustomed to, and a certain amount of financial independence.

Anyway, he describes all this in detail in his wonderful autobiography, Blessings in Disguise.

"When I'm singing a ballad and a pair of underwear lands on my head, I hate that. It really kills the mood."

Alec Guinness' hacker film

[K8Fan]

If you haven't seen it, seek out his classic "The Man In The White Suit". For those who have not seen it, Guinness plays a scientist who invents the ultimate textile - a thread that will never wear out. His bosses oppose his experimenting and the money he's wasting, but he's driven. Not to spoil the film, but he creates enough thread to weave a suit. It's bright white, as it is impervious to dye. It never gets dirty and has to be cut with a blow-torch.

How does everyone react to this wonderful invention? They all hate him! Management figures out (eventually) that they'll sell everyone one suit of clothes and then they're out of business. Labor figures out that they'll make that one suit, and then they'll be out of a job. This wonderful invention has the potential to destroy civilization as we know it.

Sound like anything you know?

A Poem for Sir Alec

[KillerPenguin]

Sir Guinness has faded now
To the world he made his final bow
The world remembers what he was
The great man who drew our applause
The enigma that he held
His great fire still not quelled
His gifts forever we'll remember
His life will burn a lasting ember
Let us not forget this day
For a great man has faded away

-KillerPenguin

Re:Guinness didn't want to be remembered for Obi W

[StanSmith]

It seems only natural that he wouldn't have cared for the part, being a great actor used to working with other great actors (ie not Mark Hamill) and being an old man with assumably little interest in science fiction.

The fact remains, however, that he was indeed a great actor and he made a conversation about the Clone Wars sound as believable and exciting as anything he and Omar Sharif discussed. For that, Star Wars fans remember him the way he deserves...as a great actor who was a big part of what we know as a great film.

Martin

How many times will this be posted...

[Joe Groff]

He has become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

- Joe

Irony

[g_mcbay]

I predict most of the messages in this forum will consist of tributes related to Star Wars, which is somewhat ironic because Alec was know to speak out strongly AGAINST Star Wars.

He thought it was rubbish (and I'm talking about the ones he was in, not Episode 1) and said such whenever asked about it.

Re:Irony (Link to Link)

[cnj]

/. article mentioning interview wherein Sir Alec clearly shows his distaste for Star Wars.

Oh yeah, Harrison Ford didn't like it either (though it made him who he is today.)

Someone else can respond to the idea that he never would have been Indy had he not been Han.

--

Only now, at the end, do I understand...

[SuperKendall]

This is a semi offtopic rant, but I feel very appropriate.

I felt like the best way to celebrate his life would be to rent many of the previous movies that Alec Guinness had been in that people here found so wonderful. It seemed his wish was not to be remembered as Obi Wan, so the least I could do is watch a number of his other movies.

That's when I found out that almost NOTHING he has been in is out on DVD (Oliver Twist to be exact), with two more on the way.

But, if you look at any site that sells UK DVD's, you'll see pretty much the whole set of Guinness movies - almost any movie he's ever done, including the Ladykillers (which I was particularilly interested in). Never have I seen such a clear example of how stupid the whole region encoding thing is.

Now I have to buy a region free capable player, and replace the controlled one I own now. That is the least I can do as a tribute to Alec Guinness.

Guinness didn't want to be remembered for Obi Wan

[Spire]

Sir Alec Guinness revealed in an interview last year that he hated the Star Wars movies (the dialogue, in particular), and actually wanted the character killed off.

Guinness did so much more than just Obi Wan. Please, let's remember him the way he deserves -- and would have wanted -- to be remembered.
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He will be missed

[Goldberg's Pants]

While most people will only say "the guy who played Obi-Wan", it's fair to say his talent was a little wasted in Star Wars.
For those who want to see "the guy who played Obi-Wan" at his best, check out the following movies if you can.
The Ladykillers

Kind Hearts and Coronets (where he plays 8 characters. Suck on that Murphy.)

The Man in the White Suit
All of these are classics British movies from the 50's (Well Kind Hearts was shortly before.) The Ladykillers in particular is, in my humble opinion, a classic.
You will be missed Alec.

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