By Arthur Flynn

Richard Attenborough managed to succeed in developing a highly successful dual role in the cinema as an actor and director.

Attenborough appeared in a series of successful films many with the Bolting Brothers. In 1942 he made his film debut in In Which We Serve. Later films included Brighton Rock, The Great Escape and 10, Rillington Place.

He began his career as a director in 1969 with Oh! What a Lovely War. He followed this with Young Winston in 1972.

Attenborough first came to the attention of the Gandhi project in 1962. He was particularly given to the Gandhi dictum.

Over the intervening years, he tried to get producers and production companies to back a film on Gandhi.

Established directors such as David Lean and Fred Zinnemann were considered more bankable. A series of writers attempted a screenplay on this complex character without success until John Briley truly captured the full essence of Gandhi’s life and personality.

Since Attenborough had first become interested in the project he had discussed the leading role with a number of leading actors including John Hurt, Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde, Peter Finch and Richard Burton.

By the time filming commenced in 1981 Attenborough had chosen a reliably unknown named Ben Kingsley. Kingsley had a remarkable likeness to Gandhi as his father was from India. He threw his heart and soul into the part. He lost weight and went on a strict diet and researched his subject thoroughly. He also studied the mannerisms of the character.

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own