Alec Guinness is now regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time, but did mainstream audiences know who he was when Star Wars originally came out? Like I wonder if him starring in Star Wars in 1977 would get the same kind of anticipation as seeing a new movie starring Daniel Day Lewis or another famous older actor today.
shareIn short; yes. He was an Academy winner for Best Actor long before Star Wars. You really need to watch Bridge of River Kwai. A most excellent film. He was also nominated for the same award in another film the same year.
shareOh yes, absolutely! That is an amazing film. I just wonder though if there was any marketing or anticipation for the first Star Wars banking off Alec Guinness being one of the greatest actors of all time. Like someone in 1976/1977 saying “I’m looking forward to that new sci-fi movie starring Alec Guinness”
shareIf it had been a "serious" SF film, yeah sure. But remember, Star Wars was huge gamble and Guinness was cast to add gravitas. He and Peter Cushing.
shareI was only 11 when the movie came out so I didn’t know who he was. But as others have mentioned Bridge on the River Kwai is an excellent film so I would expect he would have already been well known at the time.
shareYou are aware there is a link on this site to IMDB so you can see what people have done previously? If you can't be arsed to google...
shareI don't believe so. I don't think any of the actors in this one were famous prior to this movie. Except for Peter Cushing. He played Dr Frankenstein and Van Helsing in a bunch of movies
shareHe's been an acclaimed actor since the 1940s & had appeared in any number of classic films prior to his role in Star Wars. He could play any sort of role, from drama to comedy, from hero to quirky to villain. He's one of those actors all other actors admire & respect.
shareYes. Oscar winner and an outstanding actor.
He’s really what gives A New Hope gravitas. He and Harrison Fords performances were real. No cheesy cornball dialog.
It’s why Star Wars ANH is by far the best of the only 3 Star Wars films and the rest pale in comparison.
Young fans of the movie most likely didn't know who he was but older fans did. He was a well known actor at the time.
shareHe had a leading role in the hilarious film "Murder By Death" just a year before Star Wars so I'd say he was still well known.
shareYes, very famous. In fact, he was already a "Sir" years before his role in Star Wars.
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