Murder, All In the Family (Guinness Write off Tribute)

Recently, the world lost a most brilliant actor. Unfortunately, most Americans remember him solely for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars series, a role he ultimately came to despise. I put together this write off in the hopes of showing the American public that Sir Alec Guinness was an actor of merit, an actor who was so much more than that simple creation. I greatly thank all those who have participated in this write off, they too shared the vision that Sir Guinness had much more to offer the world than Obi-Wan.

To that end, I offer a masterpiece of filmmaking. Kind Hearts and Coronets is a film that I had never seen until today. I admit that I had not even heard of it, until a few others that are participating informed me of it. I thought I would never find a copy in Tulsa, and indeed, I almost didn't. Luckily, a small video store had one last, solitary copy that they gladly sold me for the unheard of amount of only $5.99. A better investment, I'm glad to say, I doubt I could have made for that small amount.

The film begins on the eve of the execution of on Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini (Dennis Price), the 10th Duke of Chelfont. He is to hang come morning for murder, yet seems remarkably calm about the whole affair. He sets about writing his memoirs, detailing his beginnings and the mess which his life has become. His mother (Audrey Fildes) was a member of the D'Ascoyne family, but ran away to marry a poor singer. After five years of poor, but happily wedded bliss, she gives birth to Louis. Upon seeing his son for the first time, Mr. Mazzini falls over dead. His mother attempts to reconcile with her family, but they refuse to answer her letters. She plants the seed in his head that he is being denied his birthright, a seed that grows into the flower of murder.

After the death of his mother, Louis vows to avenge all the wrongs done to them by the D'Ascoyne family. He systematically sets out to kill each and every one of them, assuring that he becomes the Duke of Chelfont. He visits with Lord Ascoyne D'Ascoyne (Guinness) and procures a position in the family banking business. As he does away with each family member that stands in his way, he finds himself involved in a love triangle with Sibella (Joan Greenwood) and the lovely Edith D'Ascoyne (Valerie Hobson), widow of the unfortunate Henry D'Ascoyne (Guinness, again).

Sibella had spurned Louis for the more affluent Lionel (John Penrose), a decision she comes to regret as she watches Louis move up in the D'Ascoyne family. Louis and Sibella fall into an affair, and Lionel comes to Louis for financial help, which Louis refuses. Sibella attempts to blackmail Louis into marrying her, however, he knows that she is lying and calls her bluff. As the last D'Ascoyne dies, Louis announces his engagement to the lovely Edith and becomes the 10th Duke of Chelfont. His celebration is short-lived, however, as he stands accused of murder.

This British made film is extraordinary. First, it is actually quite suspenseful as we watch Louis plot and then follow through on his plans of murder. As some of the D'Ascoyne family end up being pretty decent fellows, we pity them while at the same time identifying with the motive of Louis. I could understand his desire to fulfill his destiny, the vow to avenge his mother made sense to me. Watching your beloved mother suffer and then be denied her dying wish would likely spark the same desire for revenge in many of us.

The acting is brilliant in this film as well. Dennis Price is very good as Louis, displaying a lethal sort of charm and single-mindedness. Louis is torn between the two women in his life, although it seems likely which one will win in the end. He is also a bit of a cad, but Price gives Louis the charm to carry this off without being offensive. It is a testament to his ability as an actor that you don't dislike Louis. In fact, he seems like a fairly likable fellow even if he is quite cunning and manipulative.

As manipulative and cunning as he is, Sibella is his match in every way. Joan Greenwood is lovely, but if there was one character that I felt no sympathy for and disliked, it was Sibella. Her own desire for revenge is what topples Louis, not her love for him. She is a woman of dangerous passions, a woman who wants what she wants and is determined to have it. Because she spurned him in the first place is what sets the whole wicked scheme into motion, and her own evil manipulations make it difficult to do anything but hope she gets what she deserves. Greenwood is excellent, if a bit melodramatic in her part however.

Valerie Hobson is also lovely and the complete opposite of Sibella as the sweet and virtuous Edith. This is a woman of goodness, which contrasts with the evil Sibella nicely. Hobson is even more lovely than Greenwood, and Edith is a likable woman. Edith knows nothing of the murderous intentions of Louis, believing him to be virtuous and thus succumbs to his charm. She loved her husband, and her grief is most evident. I guess I felt most for her, seeing her as the innocent in this story. She is simply caught up in a turn of events that she doesn't even know exists and Hobson does a marvelous job of conveying that innocence.

Now, without the D'Ascoyne family we would have no story, and without Sir Guinness, we would have no D'Ascoyne family. Guinness plays all eight members of the family that stand in the way of Louis, and he gives them all a distinctness that is simply brilliant. His ability to make each family member stand out is truly a marvel, in the hands of a lesser actor I feel they would never have stood out as separate individuals. Guinness makes each one different and gives them a personality, exactly what is needed to make you feel any sympathy for them. He even plays a woman, although I would have to say that Guinness did not make the most attractive female. His performance here is easily one of the most incredible from him that I've ever seen, his uncanny ability to become someone else has probably never been so tested.

While Kind Hearts and Coronets is not his most recognizable film, that honor I believe would go to the equally brilliant Bridge on the River Kwai (for which he won an Oscar), it is certainly a film that showcases his ability just as well. All of his performances in this film are nothing short of extraordinary, and make it easy to see why he was one of England's most respected and beloved actors. If you have seen Bridge on the River Kwai and want to see more of this wonderful man, or you just love old films in general, I suggest you pick up a copy of Kind Hearts and Coronets. It is a brilliant, suspenseful tale of murder most foul that features some of the best work Guinness ever did. For those who know him only as Obi-Wan, you could do worse than start with this little gem to learn all of which he was capable. R.I.P., Sir Guinness. You will be sorely missed.


I want to thank all of the respected and wonderful writers here at Epinions who participated in this tribute. For those of you who wish to, please go to http://www.redwolf.com.au/epinions/ to link up to most of these fine people and see their reviews that pay tribute to this fine actor. Due to the late arrival of some, they are not listed on the link page yet, but please seek them out. I am certain you will find all the entries of this write off worthy of your reading.

Thanks to the participants:

Andrew_Hicks
fdknight
redwolfoz
mangiotto
grouch
janesbit1
energy81
Stone77777
ZentropaJK
Brundledan
brando814
Donlee_Brussel
CurtisEdmonds
bigjack
lars_lindahl
Macresarf1
ChrisJarmick