The Alec Guinness Collection

The Force is with Alec Guinness in this essential boxed set containing five of his very best British comedies, which should prove to be an eye-opening experience for Star Wars devotees unfamiliar with the chameleon-esque versatility of their hero, Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the black comedy that put Guinness on the map, Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), the actor portrays eight ill-fated heirs who are killed off by a young man determined to become a duke. In The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), one of his most popular films, Guinness stars as a mild-mannered bank clerk who masterminds a brilliant heist. The Man in the White Suit, also from the same year, is another tailor-made vehicle for Guinness who stars as the inventor of a wear-resistant fabric. In The Captain's Paradise (1953), Guinness is a sea captain sailing into increasingly choppy waters as he navigates between wives. Finally, The Ladykillers (1955) is a diabolically funny black comedy in which a creepy Guinness and his partners in crime (who include a young Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom) are undone by their unwitting elderly landlady. Each of these films, with the exception of the least of the lot--The Captain's Paradise--is available separately, but this well-chosen set is representative of Guinness' peerless talents and astounding range. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (K. Lee Benson)