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Sad at the death of Sean Connery. I interviewed him, very hungover, on a golf course. I asked for a mic check: “Just say your name and occupation”. He stared at me: “My name is Sean Connery. Currently unemployed. And you will be too if the questions don’t get better”.
Yes, Sean Connery took himself seriously. But to come from where he came and get to where he got, you have to. Because no-one else will. Until you’re 30ft tall on a silver screen and pointing a gun in their face.
What he brought to James Bond is immeasurable. Remember, this is a character that had already had a couple of shots at being filmed and failed. Connery took the English secret agent and became so convincing, Ian Fleming made him Scottish in the books.
Dr No director Terence Young should take a lot of credit, too. He added those tiny touches that made the character real: like making Sean sleep in his suit - James Bond is a man that dresses well but doesn’t have time for dry cleaning. But it was Sean who made it real.
Constantly worried about being typecast he made an extraordinary number of brilliant films with Hollywood’s greatest directors. He worked with Hitchcock on Marnie, Richard Attenborough on a Bridge Too Far, and Sidney Lumet - check out The Hill for his outstanding performance.
He also directed one film himself. A documentary for Scottish Television on workers at the Fairfield Shipyard in Glasgow. I’ve seen it - it’s very, very odd. But he retained a director’s eye, which some of those he worked with would find very useful.
In the Untouchables, Brian De Palma set the “he brings a knife, you bring a gun” scene in a police station. Connery insisted it take place in a Church. It immediately brought a new power to a crucial moment. That’s the Chicago way.
When people ask “why did Sean Connery get a best supporting Oscar for playing an Irish man who sounds Scottish?” - tell them about that scene. That’s why. Also, he was bloody brilliant in that movie.
Connery’s mantra was that his characters “can have weaknesses, but they can never be weak”. See Henry Jones snr. The academic father to the adventurous Henry “Indiana” Jones jnr. The dad might not be violent, but he’s very powerful. Indy’s terrified of him.
This scene (“She talks in her sleep”) was improvised on set by Connery. Watch the delay in Harrison’s reaction as he realises what’s being said. It’s a beautiful interaction. “Who else could be Indy’s father, if not James Bond?” said Spielberg.
Just one more thing. Connery returned to Bond... twice. Most know about the unofficial Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again - but he also did the VO for a video game version of From Russia with Love. It was his final role Hollywood role in 2005.
He sounds older, but looks just as did in 1963. He never appeared onscreen again. You will all think of him as the young James Bond. Although he tried so hard to shake that role off, I think that’s exactly how he wanted it.
