42 replies to this topic

[BondIsMoore]

What was the main reason why these two fought and what exactly happened?

[zencat]

$$$

[00-FAN008]

Maybe Connery was pushed out of the line at Subway, and when he returned, Cubby took his place, so they began 'shwearing up a shtorm' as Connery would say. They made 'mama' jokes and other forms of verbal abuse.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

Yes, what zencat said. It had to do with money. According to James Bond The Legacy book, Connery wanted to be partners with Cubby and Harry Saltzman for the Bond franchise. Cubby declined, and didn't want another problem with someone else handling the doe.

But really, they didn't eye to eye on things

[Johnboy007]

Money, money, compensation, and oh yeah, money.

[stromberg]

Money, money, compensation, and oh yeah, money.

... and don't forget to mention that it was all about moneymoneymoney.

Another factor also may have played a small role: ego, ego, ego.

[Turn]

To humanize Connery a bit, he has also stated his concern that as an actor the Bond role wasn't challenging him much as the films grew bigger and more reliant on gimmicks and effects. Making the Bonds took so much of his time he wasn't able to do other roles he wanted to.

Plus there were the merciless crowds following him everywhere and the press always wanting something from him. But in all fairness, and it's on the making of YOLT on the DVD, Cubby seemed to come off pretty well in handling the Japanese press and defending Connery at the beginning of filming.

His decision to do DAF, was almost purely a $ decision.

[Qwerty]

The Legacy book delves into this subject, with the reasons stated above. I also recall it mentioning Connery once saying on a talk show at the time of Never Say Never Again that Cubby was the best Bond villain.

[Triton]

Is it really that simple? Has it always been a dispute over money? No one believes that Sean Connery's boredom with the James Bond role had a little bit to do with it? That he was tired of the whole James Bond thing and wanted to do something else? Did Sean Connery also personally dislike Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman in addition to feeling exploited by them and under paid?

[Qwerty]

Is it really that simple? Has it always been a dispute over money? No one believes that Sean Connery's boredom with the James Bond role had a little bit to do with it? That he was tired of the whole James Bond thing and wanted to do something else? Did Sean Connery also personally dislike Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman in addition to feeling exploited by them and under paid?

I'd lend my support to that suggestion. Of course, money is always one of the key factors in many celebrity disputes, but I'm sure Connery's occasional aggitation with the role also played into it.

[Triton]

If it was just the money, I would think that David Picker, Broccoli, and Saltzman could have given Sean Connery another deal he couldn't refuse to star in Live and Let Die after they gave him the two picture development deal and the $1,200,000 for Diamonds Are Forever.

[Qwerty]

Quite true, they seemed convinced that Connery wouldn't be lured again for money to do another Bond film, so they just accepted it and moved on.

[freemo]

His decision to do DAF, was almost purely a $ decision.

Is that the one where he donates all the money to start that "Scottish Trust" thingy?

[freemo]

Sean Connery's feud with Cubby Broccoli

[Turn]

His decision to do DAF, was almost purely a $ decision.

Is that the one where he donates all the money to start that "Scottish Trust" thingy?

Since that is where he supposedly sent that money, then, yes I would cosider that a purely $ decision. That' wasn't meant to be said in a negative way, but it wasn't like he was doing it for free. He compensated nicely out of it as well.

[DLibrasnow]

Connery sued EON productions in court saying that he was owed royalties.

[ChandlerBing]

It could probably be argued that Sean hated Harry Saltzman more than he did Cubby.

[Kingdom Come]

The Bond films 'made' the Broccoli's and the Bond films 'made' Connery. Connery like most Scots, is full of good humour and humanity, but when they smell a rat they change - which is understandable and Connery is very much a person who likes fairness. He once said that he has sued every film company except Paramount. Perhaps he was jesting a tad but the problems between him and the Broccoli's were inevitable as this was the 60s and really the Bond films were the first so called blockbusters and a lot was at steak - I think I'm loosing my point here -.... *_*

[CommanderBond]

is this why connery never speaks about bond?

[Qwerty]

Well I wouldn't attribute it solely to that single reason, but there were some rifts.

[DLibrasnow]

Connery suing EON Productions for royalties is hardly just a rift. Does anyone know the results of the court case?

[Qwerty]

I know that aspect was rather important, but I'm referring to his personal relationship's to the producer's while he played as James Bond. (Rifts, arguments etc.)

[DLibrasnow]

Ah, well that makes sense.

[Turn]

Perhaps he was jesting a tad but the problems between him and the Broccoli's were inevitable as this was the 60s and really the Bond films were the first so called blockbusters and a lot was at steak - I think I'm loosing my point here -.... *_*

Actually, that's a very good point. There were big stars back then, John Wayne and people like that, but they were under contract under the studio system anyway, so they got paid for several films they made a year, some of which did well and others that didn't.

The Bonds set a new standard for blockbusters as the studio system was fading away. The films also set a new marketing trend, where Connery's image was being used on numerous product tie-ins, but he wasn't making any money from it. None of this had entered in before, and this was probably another sticking point for Connery in wanting to be a partner, so he could also share in things such as that where otherwise he couldn't.

[Johnboy007]

Well, Connery didn't attend Cubby's funeral.

[BondIsMoore]

I think Connery should have at least went to Cubby's funeral out of respect!

[ChandlerBing]

Yeah, that was cold. Connery, of all people, should know you only live once.

[SeaNNy-T.]

i know connerys wife also played a role in this

[Donovan]

The most details I have read about Connery's lawsuit against Eon are in Broccoli's "When the Snow Melts" autobiography. I'm going by memory here, so let's say these are paraphrased points. Connery's suit was for royalties not just in the films he starred in, but as being an integral part of establishing the series. Broccoli maintains that money paid to Connery for the Bonds came from the studio, not Eon. However, Eon controlled the budget. I know Connery's original contract was for six films, one per year. Connery was dissatisfied by the time "Thunderball" was rolling and Eon relaxed the contract so that it was for five films. I believe he was also given some sort of raise or bonus. Ultimately, I seem to recall that Connery dropped the suit against Eon. Connery also sued Taliafilm regarding money and I believe for all the problems on the shoot which he claimed they guaranteed would not happen.

Sean Connery's penchant for suing studios probably comes from his working-class background. He'd sooner be damned than let execs in high-dollar suits sitting in plush offices not comspensate him as was agreed upon (or, at least, fair compensation in his mind).

[Scottlee]

Re money : Right or wrong, Connery has always had the type of personality where Post-Goldfinger he was always going to up and up his demands until someone told him enough was enough. The request to be partners was the final straw that couldn't be given to him for whatever reason.

However.....
I also think that, like Brosnan, Connery had genuine concern for the artistic side of what he was doing and felt that Thunderball and YOLT were veering off in a direction he didn't like, quite ironic given what followed immediately after he left (OHMSS and all it's humbleness). To me Connery looked like he was trying to be more serious with his facial expression in YOLT to combat his dislike for the va va voom gadget emphasis, but only ended up looking bored. By DAF he seemed to pretty much have given up caring about Bond's spy integrity, turning up on set only to take money, film a few Mankiwiz (can't spell the name) gags, and take up the opportunity to wear a few smart tux's in the process.

If he ever saw the script for LALD before he was officially confirmed as having left, I doubt he would seen much on it to excite him.