If Alec Guinness was David Lean’s favorite actor, crowned with an Oscar for the best actor for his extraordinary composition as Colonel Nicholson, an absolute classic Bridge on the River Kwai, the actor also knew how to capture a whole new generation of viewers.
The one who discovered his exploits as a Jedi Knight in Star Wars under the guise of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The memorable composition also received a new Oscar nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actor.
Star Wars without the costumes and all the masks, it’s like the yin without the yang, the alpha without the omega. The actor’s Jedi costume also has a delicious and rather crazy story.
After serving Alec Guinness on the set of A New Hope, the human Jedi costume/gown was considered lost for decades. In 2005, an employee of a London costume rental shop who was taking inventory of the stock in reserve noticed that one of them, in not-so-great shape, had a hood and became interested.
After reporting their discovery to their manager, they actually discovered after some research that it was Alec Guinness’ costume, which had been rented out to customers for years as a monk’s robe!
For almost 30 years, customers have been wearing an original Star Wars costume – a relic – without even knowing it, as did the store staff! The costume was rented by Universal in 1999 for the filming of the movie The Mummy, for a background character. In 2007, it was finally sold at auction for a price commensurate with its value and rarity: £54,000, or more than $100,000 at the time.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
