Sir Sean's best-known work was when he played secret agent James Bond. We all have our favourite 007 movie but, for my money, Connery was at his very best as he tangled with Auric Goldfinger and his deadly sidekick, Oddjob. The manner in which he re
veals the news of the demise of the aforementioned Goldfinger is priceless. "Where's Goldfinger?" inquires Pussy Galore. "Playing his golden harp," quips Bond.
CUBA (1979): This little-known work is something of a hidden gem in the great man's filmography. Connery plays British mercenary Major Robert Dapes who arrives in pre-Revolution Cuba to help train the corrupt General Batista's army against Castro's guerrillas. However, he does little fighting and more schmoozing as he encounters an old flame. I love this film because I felt it really captured Cuba at a key time in its history… though I later found it wasn't even filmed there!
THE ROCK (1996): Connery may be getting on a bit in this excellent Michael Bay production, but he is more than convincing as he proves he can trade blows with renegade marines led by an emotionless Ed Harris. Connery combines the cold heart of an assassin with dry humour. Before the action unfolds on Alcatraz Island, the authorities have to detain Connery's character. No easy feat, but superb viewing as a madcap chase ensues.
THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (1990) Connery, as Russian submarine Captain Marko Ramius, goes Awol with his country's top piece of underwater kit. What ensues is a gripping game of cat and mouse as the world's two superpowers chase Connery all over the globe. The famous eyebrows are used to devastating effect in this Cold War thriller.
HIGHLANDER (1986) It is never pleasant to see one of your cinematic heroes decapitated, but that is the fate which befalls Connery is this fantastic tale of immortality. As the catchily named Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez, Connery trains Christopher Lambert on his path to being the one. Full of whimsy, this is a film to appeal to all generations.
The full article contains 348 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
