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Alec Guinness: A Class Act

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Alec Guinness: A Class Act
Directed byBrian O'Flaherty
Produced byEoghan Burke
StarringSimon Callow
Sinéad Cusack
Tom Courtenay
Sally Guinness
Jeremy Irons
CinematographyAnthony Brown
Edited byOlivier Stockman
Music byHugh Drumm
Distributed bySky Studios 2024
Release date
  • 1 November 2024 (2024-11-01)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryIreland
LanguageEnglish

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.

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

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Reception

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The 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

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  1. ^ Searle, Jack (3 September 2024). "Alec Guinness: A Class Act". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. ^ Wood, Ashley. "Alec Guinness: A Class Act airs September 2 2024 on Sky Arts". TV Everyday. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  3. ^ Butcher, David (3 September 2024). "Alec Guinness: A Class Act". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  4. ^ "The 44 best shows on Sky and Now to watch in November 2024". The Times. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
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