For many years now, Sir Alec Guinness has been described as a man of a thousand faces, the actor you would pass in the street without noticing. And yet he is undoubtedly one of Britain's most highly respected stars of both stage cinema and television, praised for his ability to tackle a wide range of roles; Hamlet, Smiley, or seven different characters in Kind Hearts and Coronets. It is precisely this ability to adapt completely to different parts which keeps him at the pinnacle of his profession. John Russell Taylor looks back over Guinness's entire career in this celebration, published to coincide with Guinness' eightieth birthday. In the process he sheds light on this great actor's development, personal as well as professional and illuminates Guinness' ability to adapt to the demands of the modern audience. The book is illustrated throughout with photographs showing every facet of Sir Alec's formidable presence. John Russell Taylor has worked for The Times as a freelance critic and later as their film critic. After a spell in the USA lecturing and writing. he returned to London to work on The Times as art critic. He is the editor of Films and Filming. His books include a biography of Alfred Hitchcock.