How many characters did Alec Guinness play in the film 'Kind Hearts and Coronets'?

'Kind Hearts and Coronets' is a 1949 British black comedy film. It features Dennis Price, Joan Greenwood, Valerie Hobson and Alec Guinness; Guinness plays nine characters. The plot is loosely based on the novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal (1907) by Roy Horniman. It concerns Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini, the son of a woman disowned by her aristocratic family for marrying out of her social class. After her death Louis decides to take revenge on the family, and to take the dukedom, by murdering the eight people ahead of him in succession to the title.

Alec Guinness as nine members of the D'Ascoyne family: Ethelred, Lord Ascoyne, Reverend Lord Henry, General Lord Rufus, Admiral Lord Horatio, Young Ascoyne, Young Henry and Lady Agatha D'Ascoyne. He also plays the seventh duke in brief flashback sequences to his mother's youth.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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18 Comments

William Laughlin

According to IMDb, Alec Guinness plays EIGHT roles. The opening credits list photos of the 4 leading actors with their character names. In the case of Alec Guinness, 8 photos of the 8 characters he plays are shown, along with the one character name of "The D'Ascoyne Family." In the end credits, the 8 character names are listed for him. The 8 characters are: #1 the Duke, #2 the Banker, #3 the Parson, #4 the General, #5 the Admiral, #6 Young Ascoyne, #7 Young Henry, and #8 Lady Agatha. Stevie G, you blew it on this one. How did you sneak this one through review?

lls

William Laughlin, Thank you for confirming this! This is one of my fave Alec Guiness films, and I knew the answer to be 8!

William Laughlin

lls, My pleasure. The inaccuracy of answers on this site is getting worse and worse.

billyboy915

The correct answer is 8, NOT 9! Check the film credits.

Susan McInnis Paradis

funny, the encyclopedia Britannica says 8. are you saying they are wrong? I DON'T think so!

Richard D. Boyle

One of the greatest cinema talents in movie history. Started watching his films in 1952 as a first year college student and have been hooked ever since. The quality of his body of work is matched by very few and surpassed by none.

Lawanta

Stevie G. you are WRONG! Even the linked reference to your answer states EIGHT characters 🙄👎🏻😠

Mike Hibner

Stevie G is wrong again...

Peter de Loriol

*8 characters, not nine, even your resume says as much. One of my favourite all time films. That is poor attention to detail - go to the back of the class

anneli

Why Stevie G. 9 when 8 is right, wouldn't have expected this from you.

Chuck Hill

2nd straight day with a wrong answer!

chrismdavies

All sources including Wikipedia and IMDb I have read state 8 as correct. Then how is the given answer 9? Suggest check before posting question in future.

William Laughlin

Pat Salloum, He played only 8 roles. According to IMDb, Alec Guinness plays EIGHT roles. The opening credits list photos of the 4 leading actors with their character names. In the case of Alec Guinness, 8 photos of the 8 characters he plays are shown, along with the one character name of "The D'Ascoyne Family." In the end credits, the 8 character names are listed for him. The 8 characters are: #1 the Duke, #2 the Banker, #3 the Parson, #4 the General, #5 the Admiral, #6 Young Ascoyne, #7 Young Henry, and #8 Lady Agatha. If you can name a 9th character, please do so.