RIP Geoffrey Palmer

1927 - 2020

 

Sean Connery Highlights

 Whatever you think of the life and career of Sir Sean Connery, if at all...there's no real denying his was a career and a style that was generation-defining. Iconic, powerful, and oh so Scottish. Legions of films and legions of fans he had, and whilst not all his films were successes or even appreciated, there were some true pearls in his back catalogue.

Whilst I am by no means a fan of everything he did, here I've picked out a few highlights, no ratings, no real critiques - just some favourites and why --

BOND...JAMES BOND (Dr. No/From Russia With Love/Goldfinger/Thunderball/You Only Live Twice/Diamonds are Forever/Never Say Never Again)

You can only really start here when it comes to Sean Connery. The tux, the guns, the gadgets, the DB5, the women, the villains, the style, the charm, that theme tune and those iconic words. Of their time certainly, but for so many Sean Connery is and always will be Bond.

With one character over several years and films, Connery didn't so much as re-invent but invent what the action blockbuster should and could be, rendering James Bond as the ultimate yardstick that all action films created since are judged. And it was all lead by him. Even when he returned latterly as a bit of a joke in Never Say Never, the Connery 007 magic was still there, and it probably always will be.

INDIANA JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE

Another franchise Connery was welcomed into was that of the Indy films. To me and I'm sure to most, he was perfectly cast as Henry Jones Snr. - the uptight, ludicrous yet fiercely intelligent, charming and funny father to Harrison Ford's iconic character. To me the third film of this series is by far the best, and most of that is down to Connery. The on-screen pairing of the two results in insanely watchable chemistry, and a great almost timeless film to boot.

FIRST KNIGHT

By the time this one came out in 1995, Connery's reputation and talent was well and truly established. Yes he still had the shadow, positive and negative of Bond overlooking him, but he had also proved himself to be a staunchly dependable and greatly talented actor in his own right.

There are many things about First Knight that did not and do not sit well with audiences then and now; indeed I can think of a few other interpretations of Arthurian legend on screen that I find to be far better. But any positive elements are found, clung to, enhanced and lead by Sean Connery as King Arthur. To me, he makes this film in the sense that he saves it, resulting in a watch that is maybe not timeless but still certainly enjoyable, thanks to his quality and gravitas as an actor.

ENTRAPMENT

Fast forward a few years to 1999, and we were approaching what would be Connery's final few years before his retirement from acting.

Though maybe slightly past his Bond best, this is still a very enjoyable film. Again he provides one half of a great double act - this time opposite a young Catherine Zeta Jones and again the result is great chemistry. This is a slick, well thought out crime caper film in it's own right, but it is also given another edge in the form of the sizzling, sassy, funny, elegant and grand pairing of two great acting talents.

Here Connery's role is slightly blurred to feature that of mentor, friend, wise sage, slick criminal, lover and fighter - but he still does it with aplomb and the result is a great film that I happily return to over twenty years later.

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

This film from 2003 certainly represented Sean Connery's twilight years as an actor. Indeed, it was his last feature film and the one that famously resulted in him retiring from acting and Hollywood as he apparently didn't really understand the script and found it "nonsense".

And yet, I did and do rather enjoy it. Another one I happily return to - I still think there is great charm, action and fun to be had in this film. OK the cast is certainly more of an ensemble, but Connery is immediately by far and away the stand out leader and star. He still deals with the action like it was the 1960s, still delivers great charm and panache with every line (and every raise of that brow) and still brings his unique brand of character to the piece. This film gave us a taste of what Connery could do in the realms of modern, technological film-making, and I still feel he could have given a lot more. But as a swansong I don't think it was that bad at all, and it was a pretty good end to what was and will always be a great career filled with great screen moments that people will forever enjoy again and again.