47 replies to this topic

[thecasinoroyale]

I feel a very dissapointing bit of news, courtesy of the National Enquirer... but please take with a pinch of salt, of course.


http://www.nationale...nger-james-bond


Sean Connery gives "coldfinger" to James Bond celebrations because he feels shortchanged by the original Bond producers. Connery claims he got less than one-fiftieth of the fortune they made off his six iconic films, so now he’s refusing to participate in any 007 tributes."

Connery publicist Nancy Seltzer confirmed he will not take part in any events related to the anniversary.

“Sean is, and remains, retired and has declined making public appearances,” she said. That includes a star-studded dinner for Bond cast and crew members to coincide with the release of the latest 007 film, “Skyfall,” starring Daniel Craig.

“MGM is splashing out big bucks for the dinner, but Connery has even rejected an invitation to that,” an industry source told The ENQUIRER. “He’s still that upset!”


Well, sorry, but that certainly dampens any hope of a special 50th anniversary re-union between all 6 James Bond actors. Funny how someone of such iconic status in the industry can still be so bitter to the films that made him a superstar of global recognition and there is no evident passion to celebrate the character at least with fellow actors, friends and fans.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Still that much animosity after fifty years? Such a damn shame, Hopefully a re-union can still be intact even though Connery won't be attending.

[graric]

I wouldn't exactly consider the National Enquirer a reliable source: I seem to remember the quote from his publicist appearing sometime last year in a completely different story with the bit about the Skyfall added by the paper, not actually part of her quote, and an unnamed 'industry insider' isn't reassuring confirmation. Also I'd say most interviews since the mid-90's suggest he's made his peace about Bond

Having said that I would find it more surprising if he did attend than if he didn't. He's probably much happier enjoying his retirement in the Bahama's and simply doesn't feel like getting involved with all the press and stress that will come with Bond (all public appearance's he has made since announcing his retirement from public appearance's have been thing he has wanted to go, which probably won't include something the size of Bond)

[thecasinoroyale]

Good point graric, I think it would be a very bigger surprise if he were to go, as it's almost taken that he wouldn't be there due to previous snubs.

And I can't really place a finger on what the focus of him having something against the producers, because he did lend his voice to the 2005 'From Russia With Love' video game - and that was 100% Bond, although nothing to do with the film side of things.

I guess time will tell really.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I really wish I read where the source was coming from, now I feel like a moron.

I could understand if he doesn't want to, just because of retirement.

Edited by x007AceOfSpades, 11 September 2012 - 08:00 AM.

[hilly]

It'd be a shame if he still harboured a grudge after all these years. I remember his son commenting that Sean and Diane Cilento never managed to resolve their differences and were unable to spend time together again, even at family occasions such as their only son's wedding.. although of course that could be six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Sean is 82, maybe he just doesn't feel up to it. It's one thing to be pottering around at the US Open with a few glasses of wine inside you, but a high profile event, expected to be tux-ed up to the nines, with the world's media watching you and commenting how old you look in comparison to some of your successors, well, you can see how unappealing that may seem

[Miles Miservy]

He could send a telegram. They still do that, don't they?

Edited by Miles Miservy, 11 September 2012 - 01:13 PM.

[indy_chic]

It really is a shame if Connery does feel about things that way, it would be fantastic if all the Bonds were all seen together for the 50th anniversary, even it was just for a photo - what a great picture it would have been!

[Baccarat]

I think it's pretty obvious that Connery is just a cantankerous old man. Even if the report about a financial disagreement over who made what is true, Connery earned plenty as Bond (enough to donate a then record-setting salary for DAF to his charitable trust).

If there was an official reunion with all the actors, I'd like to think Connery would turn up with a smile on his face and acknowledge his contribution and success as the original (and to most fans the best) Bond. But if he'd prefer to stay home and be miserable, so be it...

[jrcjohnny99]

Did anyone really expect Connery to be involved?
His attitude to the series has been borderline contempt since he left, if he cant score a sizable paycheck (NSNA, FRWL video game) then he has shown time and time again that he has no interest.
It's a shame but it does say a lot about the man.
Roger couldn't be more opposite.

[DamnCoffee]

Sean Connery is a fantastic actor by my god, he annoys me. He's just full of bitterness. At least do it for the fans, Sean. It doesn't have to be about money all the time. Just bloody celebrate like everyone else is doing.




.... Like I said. Bitter.

[marktmurphy]

A great big boring corporate dinner thrown by a company you stopped working for forty years ago. If you're in your 80's, why would you want to do that?
Especially if you're a multi-millionaire and you live in the Bahamas. What's in it for you? He's hardly a lonely old man who craves the attention. He'd be pulled around all night for photos and quotes with everyone. If he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to. I'm not sure I would if I were him.

[S K Y F A L L]

If true, it's to bad we'll never get a photo of the 5 of them IMO but what can you do.
Maybe he is bitter about not doing the Lord Of The Rings which would have made him a lot of money. Its to bad he could have done a lot of roles like like Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. I thought I also heard he was offered a role in the Matrix.
I guess if he didn't do those films for all the money then why would he do this.

[tdalton]

A great big boring corporate dinner thrown by a company you stopped working for forty years ago. If you're in your 80's, why would you want to do that?
Especially if you're a multi-millionaire and you live in the Bahamas. What's in it for you? He's hardly a lonely old man who craves the attention. He'd be pulled around all night for photos and quotes with everyone. If he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to. I'm not sure I would if I were him.

I'm not sure I'd want to do it either.

I think Connery has earned the right to do whatever it is that he wants to do with his time. If he doesn't want to be a part of the celebration of the franchise that he had a large part in creating, then that's his right to make that call. I would imagine that after being associated with something for as long as he has been that it must get tiring fielding questions about it and having people make request after request for you to either "say the line" or do various other things related to the part as if that's the only thing that defines him.

With regards to the video, I kind of understand where Connery is coming from when he's somewhat bitter towards autograph seekers, especially at his age. I think that it must get tiring to have people shove things in your face to sign as though you owe it to them whenever you step out of a building or just take a walk down the street. I know that celebrities should take the time to sign autographs on occasion, as it's a good way to give back to the fans who are largely responsible for them having the wealth that they do, but it shouldn't be something that they are expected to do at any given moment.

Edited by tdalton, 11 September 2012 - 04:34 PM.

[Dustin]

I didn't really expect Connery would join the celebrations; it would have been a nice but BIG surprise.

[AMC Hornet]

If anything about the Enquirer report can be taken at face value, it still doesn't preclude the possibility of Sir Sean sending a recorded message to be played during the event.

Then the rest of the 007s could pose with his Tussaud's waxwork, like The Five Doctors did with Tom Baker.

[DR76]

It's not that I believe Connery will join in the celebrations. I have my doubts. But . . . why would anyone take an article from THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER seriously?

[doublenoughtspy]

And I can't really place a finger on what the focus of him having something against the producers, because he did lend his voice to the 2005 'From Russia With Love' video game - and that was 100% Bond, although nothing to do with the film side of things.

Well, anything to do with the existing films that he did is a sore spot, but paying him $1 million to create new Bond content with his voice is a different story.

While I think everyone on CBn would love for Connery to be there, you have to look at it from his perspective.

What does Connery get out of being there? A warm fuzzy feeling for helping out the production company he felt did not pay him what he was worth for his services?

As we saw with the Creation Convention train wreck (where they promised Roger Moore would be there before they even talked to him) - Eon and everyone one else should be very careful about promising actor involvement for things they have no intention of doing.

I would love to see all 6 actors at an event, but I think 4 or 5 will be more likely, with others sending a few words via a publicist or video, if we're lucky.

[SecretAgentFan]

Well put.

[thecasinoroyale]

Sean Connery is a fantastic actor by my god, he annoys me. He's just full of bitterness. At least do it for the fans, Sean. It doesn't have to be about money all the time. Just bloody celebrate like everyone else is doing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGXboK6zSSI

.... Like I said. Bitter.

Oh my god, Mharkin - I want to say is that some look-a-like prank?? That's shocking...positivley shocking! "GET 'EM OUT OF MY FACE!" Jeez... that's quite sad to see. I'll hold a candle again to Moore and say his passion for the films and the fans is exemplary.

Actually, if you watch after that video and other similar celeb signing videos are previewed, half of them are pretty stressed and seemingly a bit rude...I mean, the fans made them who they are and simply want to admire them and their work. Check out the Sly one, ok so he does make a d**k of himself before, but he's well cranky after... any celeb who does this in a positive way really is a quality professional in my opinion. If they don't want to sign things, and put up with major fans of their work, don't go down the route of a global star actor as you KNOW what to expect - don't take your own stress out on the fans.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Sean Connery is a fantastic actor by my god, he annoys me. He's just full of bitterness. At least do it for the fans, Sean. It doesn't have to be about money all the time. Just bloody celebrate like everyone else is doing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGXboK6zSSI

.... Like I said. Bitter.

Oh my god, Mharkin - I want to say is that some look-a-like prank?? That's shocking...positivley shocking! "GET 'EM OUT OF MY FACE!" Jeez... that's quite sad to see. I'll hold a candle again to Moore and say his passion for the films and the fans is exemplary.

Actually, if you watch after that video and other similar celeb signing videos are previewed, half of them are pretty stressed and seemingly a bit rude...I mean, the fans made them who they are and simply want to admire them and their work. Check out the Sly one, ok so he does make a d**k of himself before, but he's well cranky after... any celeb who does this in a positive way really is a quality professional in my opinion. If they don't want to sign things, and put up with major fans of their work, don't go down the route of a global star actor as you KNOW what to expect - don't take your own stress out on the fans.

You can't blame him, The Man was bombarded with papers, and photos and people saying "here! Sign this!!" probably happened after Dinner or whatever. But there are other ways to handle a situation.

I remember when I saw Michael Mann after a screening for the 25th anniversary of Manhunter, he was Bombarded with Books,DVD's, papers, photo's etc, I waited, got up there with my DVD of Heat, asked him to sign because he's my favorite (one of five) to sign it, and he did so. Same thing when I met James Caan, and John Carpenter.

I wouldn't want to be bombarded like Sean or Stallone, but their mega stars. And well put TCR, if you don't like it, then maybe you shouldn't of chose this life.

[David_M]

I read an interview recently with Honor Blackman (for her new zombie movie) and I've got to say she came across as delightful with her "at my age, I say what I want because I don't give a crap" attitude (including calling Connery a hypocrite for accepting a knighthood from a country he vacated to avoid paying taxes). So maybe I'm just in a "side with the geezers" mood right now, but I say let the man do what he wants. He doesn't owe anyone anything at this point. Sure I prefer Roger (always have) and his attitude, but if it were me and I was Sean's age, I'd avoid anything to do with the movie business at this stage, including and maybe especially attending a schmooze-a-palooza PR event for Eon, which has got to have been the least fun part of the whole gig even in his heyday.

As for the video, I thought it was scary there when Connery disappeared under a mountain of photos getting shoved at him, and I can only imagine what it feel like to be the object of that kind of stampede, especially at an advanced age. The only thing that shocks me about that video is that Connery's companions/handlers would abandon him to such a mobbing. As of right now, I resolve that in the unlikely event I ever cross paths with Sir Sean, I'll give him a respectful nod from a respectable distance and leave the man some space. At some point fans need to acknowledge that the best way to "pay tribute" to a star is to let them live their lives with more dignity than a caged animal in a zoo.

[thecasinoroyale]

Yeah, fair point - we do need to respect them as people rather than objects with pens to sign things. It was a bit much... he's got such a forceful tone in his Scots accent, it does make me chuckle when he threatens to push people out the way!

[Mr_Wint]

Nice to see that he still has it in him. When Connery say GET THEM OUT OF MY FACE, you get them out of his face.

[Gt Munn]

I read an interview recently with Honor Blackman (for her new zombie movie) and I've got to say she came across as delightful with her "at my age, I say what I want because I don't give a crap" attitude (including calling Connery a hypocrite for accepting a knighthood from a country he vacated to avoid paying taxes). So maybe I'm just in a "side with the geezers" mood right now, but I say let the man do what he wants. He doesn't owe anyone anything at this point. Sure I prefer Roger (always have) and his attitude, but if it were me and I was Sean's age, I'd avoid anything to do with the movie business at this stage, including and maybe especially attending a schmooze-a-palooza PR event for Eon, which has got to have been the least fun part of the whole gig even in his heyday.

As for the video, I thought it was scary there when Connery disappeared under a mountain of photos getting shoved at him, and I can only imagine what it feel like to be the object of that kind of stampede, especially at an advanced age. The only thing that shocks me about that video is that Connery's companions/handlers would abandon him to such a mobbing. As of right now, I resolve that in the unlikely event I ever cross paths with Sir Sean, I'll give him a respectful nod from a respectable distance and leave the man some space. At some point fans need to acknowledge that the best way to "pay tribute" to a star is to let them live their lives with more dignity than a caged animal in a zoo.

Don't forget that Moore also vacated England for quite a time citing the same reasons.

[The Dove]

You know, Connery has had to put up with all the over-zealous fans shoving things in his face to sign and have photographers follow him everywhere he goes for 50 plus years, including into the men's room which is one reason why he quit Bond after YOLT, that I don't blame him for getting all cranky..and I don't need to watch this video to see it.. Let the man have his peace for godsake! I have NO qualms about him chosing NOT to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations, though it would be cool if he issued some sort of statement which could be read at the anniversary dinner or whatever.. I seem to recall that when he politely declined the 40th anniversary and Die Another Day premiere, he made a brief statement.. Also, as to his bitterness towards the Bond series, it was just a few years ago that he was happily interviewed and complimented Daniel Craig after Casino Royale..so I'm inclined to not totally believe everything to the extend that National Enquirer wants us to.. Yes, I do think he does still remain upset at how Cubby and Harry could have cut him for a bigger slice of the Bond pie but I would hope anyways Sean has to be pleased that the franchise has survived half a century.

[thecasinoroyale]

Off topic, I know, but that video makes me crack up with that little nerd-linger @ 0.02 "Please, Mister Conney? Please, sir?" and @ 0.11 "God bless you, sir." and @ 0.13 "John Patrick Mason, sir." - and you hear his little voice cracking under that emotion!

I know, I'm going to hell - that'd be me too probably. Good ol' Sean.

[marktmurphy]

If anything about the Enquirer report can be taken at face value, it still doesn't preclude the possibility of Sir Sean sending a recorded message to be played during the event.

Yeah it's not as if he doesn't do a quiet bit here and there. He did that interview with the South Bank Show about Bond when Quantum of Solace came out, after all.
I just wouldn't expect him to do a big press event; I daresay he's had enough of those for several lifetimes.

I would love to see all 6 actors at an event, but I think 4 or 5 will be more likely, with others sending a few words via a publicist or video, if we're lucky.

Well, Brosnan seems to have more reason for feeling hard-done-by, doesn't he? Even he could be a debatable show, although I expect he will.

[David_M]

Don't forget that Moore also vacated England for quite a time citing the same reasons.

So did all the Beatles and so would I if I made that kind of money and the government wanted most of it. But in Connery's case it's especially funny given his stance on Scotland (where he also sticks his nose into politics despite being a non-resident). Don't get me wrong, I'm a Yank so I don't have a dog in that fight one way or the other, but it's perversely refreshing to leaven up the usual "oh yes, Sean was the greatest" routine with a splash of cold water, and it takes a feisty old gal like Ms Blackman to do it. I don't know, maybe if I was in the room I'd have thought she was shrill and cranky, but on the page it comes off as funny and endearing. Plus it doesn't hurt that I think she's still hot even in her dotage.

The point is, I'd rather watch these geezers dish out the "cranky but honest" than put on a tux and a fake smile for an event they really don't want to attend.

[winstoninabox]

I've no idea why the words 'sense of entitlement' are used so derogatorily in connection with fans of popular entertainment.