David Lean and Alec Guinness

[julian_craster]

Lean vs Guinness: archive letters reveal clash of the film titans
By Andrew Johnson

The Independent
28 November 2007

They worked together for nearly 40 years and created some of the greatest films of the last century. But behind the scenes, David Lean and Alec Guinness nursed differences that rankled for decades.
Letters between the actor and the director, held in the special collections of the British Film Institute's (BFI) national archives in Berkhamsted and reproduced here for the first time, shed light on the fragile relationship in a series of bittersweet exchanges.
The two cinema titans worked together on such epics as Great Expectations, Bridge on the River Kwai – for which Guinness won an Oscar – and Lawrence of Arabia. These were the high points of a collaboration that went back to 1946, when the director gave the young actor his break, casting him as Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations. Two years later, Guinness was cast as Fagin in Oliver Twist.
They teamed up again for the classic Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, during which they argued, as they did on Doctor Zhivago. But it was their last collaboration, on A Passage to India, that left Guinness regretting the worst performance of his career – blacking up for the role of Godbole. Much of the performance ended up on the cutting room floor.
The letters reveal that Guinness was eager initially, writing after reading the script in November 1982: "I think you have done a marvellous job. He [Godbole] works." Six months later, he had changed his mind. "Godbole is not for me," he wrote. "I... think the script first class, but for some time now I have been uneasy at the idea of trying to tackle it. It shouts for a Hindu..."
Lean prevailed. "He was deathly afraid of doing a parody of a Peter Sellers Indian," the director said. "But... I'm afraid he did exactly what he was afraid of doing. We had to cut chunks of it out."
After the film premiered, Guinness, who died in 2000 aged 86, wrote to Lean, concerned that the director might be angry with him. "It seems to me very sad that, after an association getting on for 40 years, a rift should develop between us now," he wrote. "I have always publicly expressed my gratitude to you for giving me my first film chances and subsequent rare opportunities."
In the final letter, written a little more than a year before the director's death at 83, Guinness told Lean: "I have been asked to go to LA in early March to sing your praises at the Lifetime Achievement Award. I'd be more than happy to sing your praises and pay my tribute but really don't think I have the energy, stamina or whatever is required for such splendid junketings."
The BFI is restoring Lean's films to mark his centenary next year with money from the Lean estate. The BFI has thousands of original film reels, many of which are in danger of decaying. Last month, it was awarded £25m from the Government to help preserve some of its priceless stock.

[bertie]

What a fascinating glimpse of a relationship between two 'giants' of both British and international cinema. From what I have read before, they were both sensitive men but in entirely different ways. But whatever their relationship and its ups and downs over 40 years, what marvelous work they both turned out. Even if the casting of Godbole was an error, the film was still a fine one and showed what might have been if Lean hadn't been 'gutted' by the critics for Ryan's Daughter - now referred to as a classic. Although he didn't make films at a fast pace, how many did we miss?

[susanduic]

David Lean wanted Eric Portman to play Col. Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai.......

[Windthrop]

Originally Posted by saduic David Lean wanted Eric Portman to play Col. Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai.......

Cary Grant was also in line at one point - presumably the producers choice.

[Ed Phillips]

Originally Posted by saduic David Lean wanted Eric Portman to play Col. Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai.......

He would have been great in the part.

[bertie]

Eric Portman I could see in the part but Cary Grant........................no.

Let's be grateful it was Alec G.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by bertie From what I have read before, they were both sensitive men but in entirely different ways.

I came across an 'interview' with Alec Guinness in an old magazine, in which he was dealing with accusations of him being stand-offish and cold and (reading between the lines) basically not playing what we would now call the 'celebrity game'. It struck a chord with me because his attitudes seemed very similar to Patrick McGoohan's. He accepted he was there to do a job in the public eye, but when he was 'off duty' he regarded his life was his own.

I think he said something to the effect that if people didn't like it they could lump it.

[susanduic]

I see what you mean 'Bertie' but I personally regret it wasn't Eric Portman....in a widescreen epic, in colour, shown almost every week on TV......could have kept his name alive for generations to come in a way that his oherwise always excellent work has not quite done?

[orpheum]

I read the postumous biog and he comes out as a rather complex character.Towards the end he wwas very difficult with his wife and children.I think he nevr came to terms with his bisexuality.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by orpheum he wwas very difficult with his wife and children.I think he nevr came to terms with his bisexuality.

OMG!! Is that what's wrong with me?

[TimR]

Originally Posted by julian_craster ..........The BFI is restoring Lean's films to mark his centenary next year with money from the Lean estate. The BFI has thousands of original film reels, many of which are in danger of decaying. Last month, it was awarded £25m from the Government to help preserve some of its priceless stock.

That is certainly a worthwhile enterprise.

This is a fascinating thread. I was just watching Doctor Zhivago (again) last night and the Special Features section of the DVD contains numerous references to the ambivalence between Lean and Guinness - great mutual respect combined with antagonism at times.

It's interesting - Guiness was one of the outstanding actors of his time, but I thought he was miscast in both Doctor Zhivago and A Passage to India, both of which are excellent films.

In Zhivago, he was effective as a narrator but not in his role as Zhivago's brother. He was too old for most of the film and seemed ill at ease. He was the one exception in a cast that was otherwise outstanding. Why? It seemed strange that he was in the film at all.