25 replies to this topic

[YOLT]

Did Connery rejected OHMMS beause it was personal? I mean did he knew anything about the script of OHMMS. Maybe he found it too personal.

[Jaws0178]

Good theory, YOLT. and quite possibly that was part of the reason. I never bought the whole "he wanted more money" theory entirely. I always figured there might have been another reason, but then, hey, what do I know, huh?

Todd

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]I don

[zencat]

I think Connery was just feed up with playing Bond, especially after his experince in Japan shooting YOLT. I doubt if he ever even read the OHMSS script.

[Loomis]

Did Connery rejected OHMMS beause it was personal? I mean did he knew anything about the script of OHMMS. Maybe he found it too personal.

Where's the evidence for that? As I understand it, he was simply fed up with playing Bond, and felt the films were taking too long to make and taking up too much of his time, ruling him out of other roles. There are also stories of conflict between Connery and Eon. Arguably, a "personal" Bond film (with the accompanying acting challenge of going "dark" and "gritty" and "back to Fleming" and "exploring the demons within James Bond", etc. etc. etc. - the standard press conference cobblers) might have persuaded him to stay on a while longer, not helped push him away.

[Jim]

It was something personal.

He hated James Bond.

[YOLT]

It was something personal.

He hated James Bond.

Maybe he hated but he is still 007 in 2005 with FRWL

[YOLT]

Did Connery rejected OHMMS beause it was personal? I mean did he knew anything about the script of OHMMS. Maybe he found it too personal.

Where's the evidence for that? As I understand it, he was simply fed up with playing Bond, and felt the films were taking too long to make and taking up too much of his time, ruling him out of other roles. There are also stories of conflict between Connery and Eon. Arguably, a "personal" Bond film (with the accompanying acting challenge of going "dark" and "gritty" and "back to Fleming" and "exploring the demons within James Bond", etc. etc. etc. - the standard press conference cobblers) might have persuaded him to stay on a while longer, not helped push him away.

Well at the end of YOLT we can see that OHMSS will be the next 007 film. I think before even filming YOLT they considred filming OHMSS. Things werent like today, the scripts this way or that way were related to Flemings books. Up until 1969 I think Connery should have read all the books.

I think OHMSS had the "actor is not important James Bond and his personal life is more important" feeling. Maybe Connery was afraid of that. This makes it clear that he acted in DAF as in a comdey film. I think Connery wanted a lighter film like DAF but he couldnt agree with EON.

[cvheady007]

Exactly - Connery was irritated with the role; a combination of his experience in Japan for You Only Live Twice and the whole "Connery IS James Bond" typecasting. If only he had been in OHMSS - it would have been nice to see (not to knock Lazenby's performance). The closest Connery ever came to playing OHMSS in any way was that the beginning of Diamonds are Forever was to actually show Teresa's death...but that, too, was scrapped.

[Turn]

Remember that OHMSS was to originally follow GF, then TB. So Connery would have been in it despite what his feelings about the film were as that's what his contract called for.

[hrabb04]

Connery went through the storm with the press in Japan, and it was just plain ugly. He had been living life inside a fish bowl for a number of years with no one else to share the burden. He wanted out, and I don't blame him. Wish he had stuck around for OHMSS, but, again, I don't blame him.

[Mister Asterix]

Well at the end of YOLT we can see that OHMSS will be the next 007 film. I think before even filming YOLT they considred filming OHMSS. Things werent like today, the scripts this way or that way were related to Flemings books. Up until 1969 I think Connery should have read all the books.

I think OHMSS had the "actor is not important James Bond and his personal life is more important" feeling. Maybe Connery was afraid of that. This makes it clear that he acted in DAF as in a comdey film. I think Connery wanted a lighter film like DAF but he couldnt agree with EON.

[mra]Maybe. But if that was the case he probably read You Only Live Twice and saw the relationship that book had with the film (very little) and that would have stood to show that On Her Majesty’s Secret Service need not be exactly like the book. And perhaps, had Connery been it, it wouldn

[Qwerty]

Exactly - Connery was irritated with the role; a combination of his experience in Japan for You Only Live Twice and the whole "Connery IS James Bond" typecasting. 

Even before You Only Live Twice too, I think he was tired of some of the long shooting days for Thunderball.

[RJJB]

I heard he wanted to be in the movie until heard that "Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown" song. That was enough to get him to leave. I kid, I kid.

Everything I have read indicates he was tired of the long shooting schedules that a Bond movie required, and was also looking to break free of the threat of being typecast.

Edited by RJJB, 25 April 2005 - 10:28 PM.

[Jaws0178]

Hearing that would've made Lazenby leave too, but he didn't speak English Just kidding. (or am I??) :: Strains of the JB theme in the background:: Please, don't kill me, all you Lazenby fans. Ahh! :: Goes running for the door::

Todd

Actually, I am kidding

[Mr. Somerset]

Connery had fill of Bond after YOLT. He particulary didn't care for the long shooting schedules, and once remarked that they were never that well planned (I believe he said that in the classic Barbara Walters interview).
Also, the press did follow him into the men's room while in Japan, and never gave him much personal space. I believe they also remarked about his casual clothes, and lack of toupee, saying Bond shouldn't dress like that. I guess I wouldn't blame him for being fed up and wanting out.

[trevanian]

I think OHMSS had the "actor is not important James Bond and his personal life is more important" feeling. Maybe Connery was afraid of that. 

That sounds absurd to me -- we're talking about a guy who had just done THE HILL a couple years earlier and wound up doing MOLLY MAGUIRES around the time of OHMSS. This was a star looking to develop as an actor, not an actor falling into the star mentality trap.

But based on YOLT (on camera and off), there must have been precious little to make Connery think that another Bond flick would have some weight, a la FRWL. too damn bad, because while OHMSS is pretty good, with Connery it would have been unbelievably awesome.

[Triton]

Wasn't Peter Hunt signed as the director after Sean Connery announced that You Only Live Twice would be his last James Bond film? Hunt decided that the On Her Majesty's Secret Service screen play would be faithful to the book at the expense of the continuity of the events that occurred in You Only Live Twice.

I don't believe that the screen play existed when Sean Connery announced that You Only Live Twice would be his last James Bond film.

Lewis Gilbert, on one of the DVDs, mentions that he persuaded Sean to reconsider his decision which leads me to believe that the announcement came long before On Her Majesty's Secret Service went into pre-production.

In addition to the constant press attention, the fear of typecasting, and boredom for the role that others have mentioned, Sean Connery felt that Cubby Broccoli & Harry Saltzman were taking advantage of him and that he should have a percentage of the profits in addition to his acting fee.

Connery told Playboy magazine in an interview in 1965 that he was "tired of flat slob producers getting rich off the backs of lean actors".

Terence Young said that Sean wanted to be a partner of Broccoli & Saltzman. I believe that when Broccoli & Saltzman refused, Connery was fed up with the James Bond series.

I believe that Sean Connery still holds a grudge against Broccoli & Saltzman, and this is the reason why he worked with Kevin McClory to create a rival James Bond film.

[K1Bond007]

Did Connery rejected OHMMS beause it was personal? I mean did he knew anything about the script of OHMMS. Maybe he found it too personal.

At one point OHMSS was going to follow Thunderball. I doubt it was because of the script. I think he was just wanting to get away from Bond and do something else, he wasn't really known for much else.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

Did Connery ever actually see On Her Majesty’s Secret Service? If so, did he ever voice his opinion of Lazenby's performance as Bond and/or the film itself?

[Qwerty]

Did Connery ever actually see On Her Majesty’s Secret Service? If so, did he ever voice his opinion of Lazenby's performance as Bond and/or the film itself?

Wasn't there an article about him saying he did/didn't see this one a while back? I may be thinking of something else.

[Loomis]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='25 April 2005 - 20:53'](Connery) probably read You Only Live Twice and saw the relationship that book had with the film (very little) and that would have stood to show that On Her Majesty’s Secret Service need not be exactly like the book. And perhaps, had Connery been it, it wouldn

[Skudor]

Sean is Scottish. I'm sure money was a big factor in quitting after YOLT. But he was also fed up with the character - it had overwhelmed him.

[Jaws0178]

"Sean is Scottish."

???????? :: Raises eyebrow:: What does this have to do with anything?? That's like saying "Oh, Pierce Brosnan is Irish, so he must always come to work with a six pack of Guiness and talk to leprechauns while eating Lucky Charms with a four leaf clover in his hair." Correct me if I am mistaken please.

Todd
"Oh, Brosnan also wears green all the time"

[Skudor]

Actually, SC is famous for being more Scottish than most, in many ways, not least when it comes to pennies and pounds.

[Scottlee]

"Who knows, a Connery OHMSS might have been YOLT II, with Blofeld launching space weapons from Piz Gloria and the film ending with a laughing Bond and Tracy in each other's arms while clinging to a rope ladder of a helicopter that's flying them to safety" - Loomis.

Hehe. Legend!

Oh, and no I don't think the Hunt approach put Connery off. I don't think he cared what sort of film the 6th would be. He had already made his made up to leave (barring the unlikely ; he being made a partner in the series)

Edited by Scottlee, 26 April 2005 - 05:30 PM.