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Post by Isapop on Nov 1, 2020 18:48:19 GMT
You and marshamae are right! In the Blu-Ray director's commentary Jean-Jacques Annaud explains that he felt the lead character William of Baskerville was already an amalgam of two British icons, Sherlock Holmes and William of Occam, and adding a third British icon, James Bond, on top of it was simply too much. But Connery offered to audition, and his reading won Annaud over. (Connery won the BAFTA for his performance.)
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Post by Isapop on Nov 1, 2020 19:06:35 GMT
Off topic I read an article yesterday comparing Connery to Cary Grant, their childhood of poverty and rough streets, their self education, their mixed generosity and unwillingness to throw money around, their staggering physical presence and great comic abilities. Both men, to me , seemed remarkably grounded, able to take risks because they. Knew who they were ( yes I know about Grants LSD trips, psychotherapy and identity crises, but in dealing with the studio he was very clear eyed, knowing what he wanted and what he was worth) In film after film we hear of Connery demanding script changes, casting changes or actors kept on and not fired, salary adjustments, better treatment for other actors. He demanded it and he got it! I don’t hear of actresses complaining about him either , except for Gina Lollabrigida, despite his remarks about it being ok to hit women. And he stayed married to his wife from 1975 til his death. Yes, the parallels between Connery and Grant are unmistakable. Grant, as you say "in dealing with the studio he was very clear eyed, knowing what he wanted and what he was worth" took the daring (many would have said reckless if not suicidal) step of refusing to sign another long term studio contract when his RKO contract expired in 1936, preferring to go free lance. And if James Bond films had begun in the 1940s Cary Grant would be the one and only choice for the part.
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Post by Jonesy1 on Nov 1, 2020 19:09:12 GMT
You and marshamae are right! In the Blu-Ray director's commentary Jean-Jacques Annaud explains that he felt the lead character William of Baskerville was already an amalgam of two British icons, Sherlock Holmes and William of Occam, and adding a third British icon, James Bond, on top of it was simply too much. But Connery offered to audition, and his reading won Annaud over. (Connery won the BAFTA for his performance.) That was going to be my second guess. 
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Post by Isapop on Nov 2, 2020 15:31:28 GMT
You and marshamae are right! In the Blu-Ray director's commentary Jean-Jacques Annaud explains that he felt the lead character William of Baskerville was already an amalgam of two British icons, Sherlock Holmes and William of Occam, and adding a third British icon, James Bond, on top of it was simply too much. But Connery offered to audition, and his reading won Annaud over. (Connery won the BAFTA for his performance.) That was going to be my second guess. Forget it, Curley, you had your chance and you blew it. (That's a Bond movie quote.)
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