16 replies to this topic

[dodge]

IN PRAISE OF CONNERY THE ACTOR

Yes, I started a Connery roast thread, it's true. But my love for his four Bonds will never die.

The absolute essence of Con, for me, is contained in the following quote:

Connery's use of body movement, which he has indeed spent hours perfecting, is one thing that helps distinguish him as an actor. "I won't even take a role until I work out the body techniques," he says. Although naturally athletic, Connery, at the urging of his first wife, actress Diane Cilento (best known as the lusty Molly in Tom Jones), took an intensive course in movement from a ballet dancer named Yat Malgrem years ago in London. He still refers to his dog-eared copy of Malgrem's textbook, sharing it with his only child, 26-year-old Jason, who is an actor. And with anybody else.

"Look, if this were a set," says Connery getting up from the couch and walking toward the center of the room, "and suppose you had a glass curtain, you should be able to follow something of the drama by the walk and the body language without having to understand what the people are saying."

He turns. "If, for instance, you wanted to see a character who was all head and no body, it would be Cassius in Julius Caesar, the lean-and-hungry look they talk about. He's just all manipulating, whereas Mark Antony is very much a weight person, charismatic. This usually starts with the body, because that's our first impression and it's what makes people respond or not respond."

It was certainly what the producers of Dr. No responded to when Connery burst into their London office in 1961, determined to be Bond. At the time, Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli were considering more polished contenders - Patrick McGoohan and Roger Moore, among others - when in came Connery with that walk of his, a kind of fluid swagger once described as "the threatening grace of a panther on the prowl. " Poorly dressed and with his thick Scottish burr, he delivered his theory of Bond, pounded the desk to make his points, then swaggered out, leaving the two men dumbfounded.

"I used strong and commanding movements," says Connery, “not with weight, but to show how Bond is always in control of a scene.”

source: http://www.seanconne.../art_gq0789.htm

[deth]

you wouldn't believe how effective it is to model your own walk after Connery's...

[jaguar007]

you wouldn't believe how effective it is to model your own walk after Connery's...

Good pointsh!

I'm alsho trying to model my voiche after Connerysh.

[BoogieBond]

Like that Article. You can't quite bottle up Connery's qualities, but the grace, confidence and charm of the man could not be imitated. I know people think that a lazy Connery is not worth it(like for YOLT/DAF) but I say one good Connery is worth 2 in the bush .
As Bond , in his heyday in the middle sixties, he was the coolest guy around bar none IMO.

Edited by BoogieBond, 14 July 2008 - 04:57 PM.

[Skudor]

Like that Article. You can't quite bottle up Connery's qualities, but the grace, confidence and charm of the man could not be imitated. I know people think that a lazy Connery is not worth it(like for YOLT/DAF) but I say one good Connery is worth 2 in the bush .
As Bond , in his heyday in the middle sixties, he was the coolest guy around bar none IMO.

He was the coolest cat in the jungle, no doubt about it.

[00Twelve]

Connery's often underrated, or so I've noticed among others with whom I've discussed his skill. Many people go straight to him when they bring up Bond, but if one were to list him in, say, their top 5 favorite actors, it surprises me how many people tend to raise an eyebrow at that notion.

The man studied hard and worked for his reputation. I'm not surprised at all that he studied movement that hard. It's true, there's so much that's told by a character's movement before they say their first word. Look at Harrison Ford at the beginning of Raiders. You knew he was bad long before he said anything about Foresto cashing in. Or look at Connery as Bond, and contrast it with the shot in Last Crusade where he calmly walks past a dumbfounded Indy on the beach just after scaring the seagulls into wrecking the Nazi plane. Totally different walk. That's a great skill to have acquired.

Thanks for the excerpt, dodge. Con's easy to poke fun at, but he's as professional an actor as one would want to be.

[dodge]

Connery's often underrated, or so I've noticed among others with whom I've discussed his skill. Many people go straight to him when they bring up Bond, but if one were to list him in, say, their top 5 favorite actors, it surprises me how many people tend to raise an eyebrow at that notion.

The man studied hard and worked for his reputation. I'm not surprised at all that he studied movement that hard. It's true, there's so much that's told by a character's movement before they say their first word. Look at Harrison Ford at the beginning of Raiders. You knew he was bad long before he said anything about Foresto cashing in. Or look at Connery as Bond, and contrast it with the shot in Last Crusade where he calmly walks past a dumbfounded Indy on the beach just after scaring the seagulls into wrecking the Nazi plane. Totally different walk. That's a great skill to have acquired.

Thanks for the excerpt, dodge. Con's easy to poke fun at, but he's as professional an actor as one would want to be.

Thanks for the kind words, 00Twelve. I've taken my shots, not all of them not cheap, at Con...but here I am now, thinking of him with increased respect.

Here's something funny, too: my favorite Lazenby story had always been how he strutted in to the producer's office with a haircut by Con's barber, in a ConBond Savile Road suit, with a premium Rolex watch--and then, basically, ramrodded the producers into giving him the part. It appears Gorgeous George borrowed that from Con as well!

[Chula]

Lazenby - how he strutted in to the producer's office with a haircut by Con's barber, in a ConBond Savile Road suit, with a premium Rolex watch--and then, basically, ramrodded the producers into giving him the part.

Yes, and there is the difference between an actor (Connery) and a model. Lazenby merely impersonated the character Bond (modelled it after Connery), while Connery and others sought out the character via their acting techniques.

When Lazenby walked in with Connery's haircut and suit, the producers should have immediately said, "Next! We want an actor not a parrot."

Connery's best performances:
GOLDFINGER
THE MOLLY MAGUIRES
THE WIND AND THE LION
Absolutely no actor could have played those roles better than Connery.

[dodge]

Further to 00Twelve's post, pointing out how hard Con worked at his craft:

From his early acting days until his first superstar role, Sean's stardom was certainly not an over-night success story. From his first work in modeling, bit theatrical parts, and chorus appearances, it was almost eight years before he was cast opposite Lana Turner in Another Time, Another Place (1958). It would be another four years before he first uttered those unforgettable words, "Bond, James Bond."source: http://www.seanconnery.com/biography/

Roles: per Bond:
Anna Karenina (1961) (TV) .... Wronski
Macbeth (1961) (TV) .... Macbeth
On the Fiddle (1961) .... Pedlar Pascoe
... aka Operation Snafu (USA)
... aka Operation War Head (USA: reissue title)
The Frightened City (1961) .... Paddy Damion
"Adventure Story" (1961) TV series .... Alexander
Without the Grail (1960) (TV) .... Innes Corrie
"An Age of Kings" .... Harry Percy / ... (2 episodes, 1960)
- Richard II Part 2: The Deposing of a King (1960) TV episode .... Hotspur
- Richard II Part 1: The Hollow Crown (1960) TV episode .... Harry Percy
Riders to the Sea (1960) (TV) .... Bartley
Colombe (1960) (TV) .... Julien


"ITV Play of the Week" .... John Proctor / ... (2 episodes, 1959)
... aka Play of the Week (UK: short title)
- The Crucible (1959) TV episode .... John Proctor
- The Square Ring (1959) TV episode .... Rick Martell
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959) .... O'Bannion
Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) .... Michael McBride
... aka The Little People (USA)
"Disneyland" (1 episode, 1959)
... aka Disney's Wonderful World (USA: new title)
... aka The Disney Sunday Movie (USA: new title)
... aka The Magical World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka The Wonderful World of Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney Presents (USA: new title)
... aka Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (USA: new title)
- I Captured the King of the Leprechauns (1959) TV episode
"Armchair Theatre" (1 episode, 1958)
- The Boy with Meat Axe (1958) TV episode
Women in Love (1958) (TV) .... Jewish Pianist/Nazi War Criminal
A Night to Remember (1958) (uncredited) .... Titanic deck hand
Another Time, Another Place (1958) .... Mark Trevor
Anna Christie (1957) (TV) .... Mat Burke
Action of the Tiger (1957) .... Mike
Time Lock (1957) .... Welder #1
Hell Drivers (1957) .... Johnny Kates
... aka Hard Drivers
Blood Money (1957) (TV) .... Harlan 'Mountain' McClintock
"BBC Sunday Night Theatre" .... Mountain McClintock (1 episode, 1957)
- Requiem for a Heavyweight (1957) TV episode .... Mountain McClintock
No Road Back (1957) .... Spike
"The Jack Benny Program" .... Porter (1 episode, 1957)
... aka The Jack Benny Show
- Jack Hires Opera Singer in Rome (1957) TV episode .... Porter
"Dixon of Dock Green" .... Joe Brasted (1 episode, 1956)
- Ladies of the Manor (1956) TV episode .... Joe Brasted
"Sailor of Fortune" .... Achmed (1 episode, 1955)
- The Crescent and the Star (1955) TV episode .... Achmed
Lilacs in the Spring (1954) (uncredited) .... Undetermined Role

[double o ego]

you wouldn't believe how effective it is to model your own walk after Connery's...

QFT. I started modeling my walk after Connery's walk, particularly the way he walked in Dr.No and trust me, people believe my swagger is too cool not to mention it gives you a sense of uplifting confidence and the girls, love it!

[IMINTHEMONEYPENNY]

Have you noticed he does a John Wayne hand in hip pocket in DR NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and even does the sideways slight drag of the foot. It worked very well.

I have practiced it but it doesn't look too good on a girl.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Lazenby - how he strutted in to the producer's office with a haircut by Con's barber, in a ConBond Savile Road suit, with a premium Rolex watch--and then, basically, ramrodded the producers into giving him the part.

Yes, and there is the difference between an actor (Connery) and a model. Lazenby merely impersonated the character Bond (modelled it after Connery), while Connery and others sought out the character via their acting techniques.

Well, at least Lazenby's gait was natural of him; Connery had to learn his from a ballet dancer!

[urhash]

Have you noticed he does a John Wayne hand in hip pocket in DR NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and even does the sideways slight drag of the foot. It worked very well.

I have practiced it but it doesn't look too good on a girl.

I see what you mean about the hip pocket thing (my friend calls it 'playing pocket pool hehe). What do you mean about the sideways slight drag of the foot?

Oh, and why do you guys mention Dr. No specifically? I've looked at Connery's movements quite closely as well and I find it more refined in FRWL. Then again, there's large swaths of Dr. No where you're just watching Connery move from left to right, and right to left. =P

Edited by urhash, 20 July 2008 - 04:15 PM.

[double o ego]

Dr.No is mentioned specifically because that's the film he does the most walking.

"Then again, there's large swaths of Dr. No where you're just watching Connery move from left to right, and right to left. =P"

And that is the genius of Connery. One can watch a 2 hour movie where he's just walking around doing nothing else and people will pay to see it because his charisma and screen presense is just awe-inspiring.

AS for his walks in FRWL, I particularly remember his stand out walks when he's walking into Karems's private office just after the explosion and when he's casually strolling at the train station, smoking a cig as he's waiting/looking for the contact.

[dodge]

Apparently, credit for the walk and body movements owe credit to more than a 'ballet teacher':

Connery's portrayal of Bond owes much to stylistic tutelage from director Terence Young, polishing the actor while using his physical grace and presence for the action. Robert Cotton wrote in one Connery biography that Lois Maxwell (the first Miss Moneypenny) noticed, "Terence took Sean under his wing. He took him to dinner, showed him how to walk, how to talk, even how to eat." Cotton wrote, "Some cast members remarked that Connery was simply doing a Terence Young impression, but Young and Connery knew they were on the right track."[12]

source: http://en.wikipedia....ki/Sean_Connery

Con's fabulous way with a knife and fork in FRWL isn't diminished in the slightest for me if it came from TY.

[double o ego]

Yeah, Young had a lot to do with Connery's poshness as Bond. If you watch the Dr.No dvd special feature they explain this a lot. In fact, it was even said that Young lived the cinematic lifestyle of Bond.

[dodge]

He became The Untouchable Con almost in spite of himself:

Roles turned down by Sean Connery:
source: http://www.notstarri...rs/connery-sean

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Connery was signed for the part of King of the Moon but budget troubles forced Terry Gilliam to cut great portions of the moon sequence. With his role diminished, Connery left the project.
Actor who got the part: Robin Williams


Alexander

Sean Connery was originally considered for the role of Philip (Val Kilmer).
Actor who got the part: Val Kilmer


Amistad

Passed on the role of John Quincy Adams.
Actor who got the part: Anthony Hopkins


Assassins

Connery was considered for the role of Robert Rath. (it was written with him in mind)
Actor who got the part: Sylvester Stallone


Austin Powers in Goldmember

Early on, Sean Connery and Ursula Andress were intended to play Austin's parents, spoofing their roles from 1962's Dr No.
Actor who got the part: Michael Caine


The Birds

Alfred Hitchcock considered the young Connery to play a San Francisco lawyer whose romance with a beautiful, shallow playgirl gets torn apart by mysterious bird attacks.
Actor who got the part: Rod Taylor


Boom!

Playwright Tennessee Williams' top choice to play the hustler "Chris Flanders" opposite Elizabeth Taylor declined the opportunity.
Actor who got the part: Richard Burton


Broken Dreams

Sean Connery was set to co-star in this production before the death of River Phoenix.
Actor who got the part: None


Die Hard: With a Vengeance

Connery turned down the role of Simon Gruber due to the diabolical nature of the character.
Actor who got the part: Jeremy Irons


Dressed to Kill

Sean Connery turned down the role of Robert Elliot due to prior commitment.
Actor who got the part: Michael Caine


From Hell

Sean Connery was considered for the lead role of Inspector Fred Abberline.
Actor who got the part: Johnny Depp


In the Line of Fire

Sean Connery turned down the role of Frank Horrigan.
Actor who got the part: Clint Eastwood


Instinct

Sean Connery was considered for the role of Ethan Powell.
Actor who got the part: Anthony Hopkins


The Jackal

Sean Connery was considered for the role of the Jackal.
Actor who got the part: Bruce Willis


Josiah's Canon

Connery was to star in this film about master thief who organizes a team of notorious bank robbers to pull off a major job. Connery pulled out to focus on writing his autobiography.


Jumanji (?????)

Sean Connery was considered to play Alan.
Actor who got the part: Robin Williams
Help! Can you verify this entry? » THIS IS TRUE » JUST A RUMOR


Jurassic Park

Sean Connery turned down the role of John Hammond.
Actor who got the part: Richard Attenborough


Live and Let Die

Sean Connery turned down the role of James Bond.
Actor who got the part: Roger Moore


The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf. He said in an interview that he "didn't understand it" and therefore didn't want to spend 18 months on the project.
Actor who got the part: Ian McKellen


The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf.
Actor who got the part: Ian McKellen


The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf.
Actor who got the part: Ian McKellen


The Matrix

Sean Connery was originally offered the role of Morpheus. He turned down the role saying he couldn't understand the script. Years later, he said that he chose to do "the League of Extraordinary Gentleman" (despite not understanding the project) because he regretted turning both "the Matrix" and "Lord of the Rings" down.
Actor who got the part: Laurence Fishburne


The Matrix Reloaded

Sean Connery turned down the role of the Architect.
Actor who got the part: Helmut Bakaitis


The Matrix Revolutions

Sean Connery turned down the role of the Architect.
Actor who got the part: Helmut Bakaitis


Mindhunters (?????)

Sean Connery was originally offered the role of Jake Harris.
Actor who got the part: Val Kilmer
Help! Can you verify this entry? » THIS IS TRUE » JUST A RUMOR


On Her Majesty's Secret Service

Sean Connery turned down the role of bond but returned once more in 'Diamonds Are Forever'.
Actor who got the part: George Lazemby


Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Sean Connery thought it would be funny if he reprised his King Richard role from Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves, but in drag. Mel Brooks found it funny too, but turned him down due to his salary.


Short Night

Alfred Hitchcock wanted Connery to play the role of a man who, sent to intercept and kill a dangerous spy, falls in love with the spy's beautiful wife.
Actor who got the part: Film Was Never Made, Hitchcock Died


The Sound of Music

Considered for the role of "Captain von Trapp."
Actor who got the part: Christopher Plummer


Star Trek V: the Final Frontier

Original choice for Sybock. the words in the film "Sha Ka Ree" are a play on of his name.
Actor who got the part: Laurence Luckinbill


Star Wars (?????)

Was considered to play ther role of Obi Wan Kenobi but was turned down as he was too young to play the character.
Actor who got the part: Alec Guiness
Help! Can you verify this entry? » THIS IS TRUE » JUST A RUMOR


The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

Offered the role of Thomas Crown but declined. Connery later regretted his decision.
Actor who got the part: Steve McQueen


The Three Hostages

Alfred Hitchcock wanted to re-team "Marnie" stars Sean Connery and 'Tippi' Hedren as a married couple who go on a hunt to track and trap a brilliant, seductive international kidnapper in this big spy thriller. The project never got made.


Topaz

Alfred Hitchcock offered the role of spy and family man "Andre Devereaux" to his "Marnie" star.
Actor who got the part: Frederick Stafford