REMEMBERING SEAN CONNERY

                                                                 Born August 25th, 1930

 

About the JAMES BOND film franchise.

 I'm a big fan of all the James Bond films but after 1971, I always regret it's not Sean Connery who's playing 007.

Somehow, the image set in my mind of how should James Bond look and act, is of Sean Connery which is understandable, since my first encounter with Ian Fleming's super spy was in the film DR. NO, in 1962. As I read Fleming's novels, I always pictured Sean Connery as Bond and whenever I heard the James Bond theme, it was the image of Connery that popped into my mind.  When he retired from the role, it became apparent that no one would ever replace him.  And to this day, James Bond still looks like Sean Connery to me!

SEAN CONNERY'S 90th BIRTHDAY!

 As Sir Sean Connery reaches the 90 year mark, I'd like to post my 20 favorite Connery non-Bond films. 

                                     

                                  

                                  

                               

                                    

And of course, he's still the best James Bond ever!

 

HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY, SIR SEAN CONNERY!

A CONNERY CELEBRATION!

Sean Connery was born August 25, 1930 in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, in Scotland.

He shot to world fame when he was signed to portray Secret Agent James Bond 007 in the first official James Bond movie adventure, DR. NO (1962).

He had an illustrious career up until 2003 when he retired after completing THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, which remains his last film appearance.

To date, he is the only screen James Bond who's received an Academy Award (for 1987's THE UNTOUCHABLES). 

I first saw him in Walt Disney's DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE (1959) but I became one of his numerous loyal fans when I saw him in his debut as Bond.

 I still think he's the best James Bond ever, in spite of the many illustrious actors who have portrayed Ian Fleming's character over the long series of films.

                                       

He's raked in 94 film credits in IMDb, many of which are true classics, like THE HILL, THE ANDERSON TAPES, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, THE WIND AND THE LION, THE NAME OF THE ROSE, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, OUTLAND, HIGHLANDER, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, and FINDING FORRESTER.

                                         

THUNDERBALL (1965), is my favorite Bond adventure.

                                                           Long Live Sir Sean Connery!

 

IN LIKE FLYNN!

 ERROL FLYNN, born June 20, 1909 in Tasmania, Australia, was one of my first heroes from the silver screen. He is mostly remembered for being the best Robin Hood in films but his career spanned many other worthwhile performances.

 CAPTAIN BLOOD, THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, DAWN PATROL, THE SEA HAWK, THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON, GENTLEMAN JIM, VIRGINIA CITY, OBJECTIVE, BURMA!, DESPERATE JOURNEY, THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN and THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE  are just a few of his better and most fondly remembered films.

Because most of his performances were portraying heroic figures, he was admired by moviegoers as the ultimate swashbuckler. His career began to wane in the late forties and, except from a few memorable  appearances during the fifties, Flynn could never regain the top star status he had achieved during the thirties and early forties.
But still, his reputation as a movie icon has not tarnished. He still remains the template for all screen swashbucklers.

Long Live Errol Flynn!

Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck paid homage to Flynn in two cartoons directed by Chuck Jones:
RABBIT HOOD (1949) and ROBIN HOOD DAFFY (1958)

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x20z63h

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3be23d

DIRTY HARRY'S BIRTHDAY!

Clint Eastwood was born May 31, 1930.

I must confess I never saw the celebrated TV show RAWHIDE, where Clint Eastwood became well-known; however,  I did read the Dell and Gold Key comics published around 1963, and had heard the fantastic theme song, expertly rendered by Frankie Laine.  But I missed the show's first run and I never could find it in syndication.

But my first encounter with the immortal Clint came with his first spaghetti western: A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and its subsequent sequels, FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE and THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. The latter's main theme has been imbedded in my brain forever.

And since then, I jumped on the CLINT bandwagon never to get off!
The list of classic Clint Eatwood films is quite long. It's not necessary to repeat them here.
Suffice it to say, Mr. Eastwood has a very special place in movie history and no actor has yet come to replace him.

Long Live Dirty Harry!

Mort Drucker captured him beautifully in his MAD magazine parody of Dirty Harry:

His last film to date was 2018's THE MULE which earned $171.3 million at the box office, proving that no matter how old and ancient Clint may be, he still has a strong hold over his audience!

Today, my plan is to sit down and watch some of my favorite Clint Eastwood films, in honor of this great and everlasting movie icon!

Clint Eastwood: "Make my day!"