A Thousand Stars: Episode IV, Part 12

With all the backstory we were given with the prequels, it can be easy to forget that this film gave us our first look at Obi-Wan Kenobi as an old hermit living in obscurity. Consider the work Alec Guinness would have needed to put in as an actor, to create a sense of Ben's history. And look at how fantastically he pulls it off.

At the first mention of his original name, we get this Look on his face. Yes, powerful enough to warrant the capital letter. Combined with the music cue, it's enough give us chills.

This evocation of long-ago history continues throughout Luke's visit to Ben's house, with more wonderful expressions. Not even Lucas had fully fleshed out the backstory at this early stage in the saga (how could he anticipate that he'd have the chance to expand his vision into six entire films!) yet these moments still work in retrospect, because Guinness imbues them with so much pathos and meaning and untold stories.

Next time, a glimpse at the banality of evil...