Connery's performance in YOLT
Mike Feeney
we occasionally do that here on afjb ya know.
I just re-watched YOLT last night. A true masterpiece,
IMHO. In many ways a groundbreaking film, far
ahead of its time. Although I've seen it dozens of
times, it never fails to completely mesmerize me.
But the main reason for this post is to address a
specific element of this film; namely, Sean Connery's
performance. I have seen numerous posters on
this forum state that they find Connery's performance
in YOLT to be sub-par. Comments such as "he
looks bored" and "he's sleep-walking through his
lines" come to mind.
Now I am aware of the behind-the-scenes events
at the time YOLT was filmed. Connery himself
has stated that he had a miserable time while in
Japan -- constantly being in the spotlight and
followed everywhere by the press. The worldwide
adulation had taken it's toll and he no longer
wanted to make Bond films. At the time, he
intended YOLT to be his last outing as 007.
But these facts are "behind the scenes" so to
speak. What I'd like to focus on is Connery's
performance *on-screen* in YOLT. After just
viewing the film 24 hours ago, it is still very fresh
in my mind. And I have to say that I do NOT
see a sub-par performance by Connery in YOLT!
Whatever pressures and discontent he had
offscreen, it did not follow him in front of the
camera, IMO.
There are several really excellent scenes which
I would offer to support my argument. First,
take the scene in which Bond, posing as
chemical company executive Mr. Fisher,
meets Mr. Osato and Helga Brandt in Osato's
office. It was in this very office, the night
before, that Bond fought and killed the accomplice
of Henderson's assassin. Bond had hidden the
dead body of his defeated foe in the walk-in liquor
cabinet inside the office. When Mr. Osato aks
Bond to join him in a morning glass of champagne,
Bond declines. And when Helga Brandt walks
over to open the door to the walk-in liquor cabinet,
there is a brief shot of Connery looking very
worried. Bond recalls that this was the office he
had his struggle in last night, and he is half-expecting
that when Helga Brandt opens the door, the guy's
dead body will be lying there! Connery does an
excellent job here -- really -- of displaying Bond's
worry. One of the rare moments in the series when
Bond actually does show an emotion such as this.
In fact, until last night, I never noticed the look of
worry on his face during this very brief scene. It
really serves to make this whole scene much more
tense and powerful.
Another great moment is after the death of Aki.
Much praise has been said about Connery's
performance in the TB beach scene in which
he tells Domino about her brother's death.
A fine scene, yes, but Connery's performance
in the Aki death scene is equally powerful, IMO.
Especially after Tanaka runs in, when Connery
slowly turns away from the camera and stares
out at the Japanese dawn, without saying anything.
I really got the feeling that Bond -- Connery's
Bond, no less -- was deeply upset at the death
of Aki. Not simply another notch on his belt,
but somebody that he had actually cared for.
Again, I really got that feeling from this scene,
and credit has to be given to Connery.
Another brief, but excellent example, is the
scene in which Bond is riding up the launch
pad elevator, dressed in the astronaut uniform,
inside the SPECTRE volcano base. As the
launch crew are riding up the elevator, the
camera focuses for a few moments on Bond's
face -- behind the helmit's glass face-shield.
And Connery looks worried! He perfectly
delivers that look of "I don't know what the
hell I'm gonna do when I get aboard this
thing, but I've gotta do something." His
expression really helps build up the tension
in this scene!
Anyway, I fully expect the majority of posters
to disagree with my opinion, and I'd be
interested in hearing specific examples of
scenes in which you feel Connery gave a
sub-par performance in YOLT. Because I
really don't see it. YOLT remains my favorite
Connery Bond film (by a wide margin), and
my second favorite film of the entire series.
-- Mike
PS - Anyone else think that Karin Dor, who
played Helga Brandt, was absolutely
stunningly gorgeous in this film? I never
see Helga Brandt show up in the numerous
polls of "sexiest Bond girl", etc., but the
next time such a poll comes around, I'm
going to cast my vote for her! I would
have been tempted to dive in to the
pirahna pool to save her had I been
there. "The things I do for England"
indeed! :-)
tim gueguen
Mike Feeney <mfe...@removeairmail.net> wrote in message
news:7811C05DFB07E0BF.3932A843...@lp.airnews.net...
> Okay, serious discussion time once again. Yeah,
> we occasionally do that here on afjb ya know.
>
> I just re-watched YOLT last night. A true masterpiece,
> IMHO. In many ways a groundbreaking film, far
> ahead of its time. Although I've seen it dozens of
> times, it never fails to completely mesmerize me.
>
the dockyard roof with Bond fighting a couple dozen guys at once. I also
get a chuckle over Osato's identification of Bond's gun to Blofeld: he
looks more like a schoolkid being pleased with himself that he knows the
correct answer to the teacher's question than an international conspirator.
tim gueguen 101867
Holvbphoto
where SEAN does look mad, or just doesn't care about certain things
KARIN DOR fine lady
http://www.holvbphoto.com
Zeki
Mike Feeney <mfe...@removeairmail.net> wrote in message
news:7811C05DFB07E0BF.3932A843...@lp.airnews.net...
Thank you so very much for this post.
YOLT is my favorite Connery Bond-movie as well, and the space-march theme by
Barry when Bond is posing as an astronaut inside the volcano while riding up
to the shuttle, is one of the finest Bond moments.
> PS - Anyone else think that Karin Dor, who
> played Helga Brandt, was absolutely
> stunningly gorgeous in this film
Not me, she reminds me of Peggy Bundy
Zeki
Gil Pinsberg
> > played Helga Brandt, was absolutely
> > stunningly gorgeous in this film
She seemed to me like a cheap imitation of Fiona Volpe...
GIL
Barry King
<7811C05DFB07E0BF.3932A843...@lp.airnews.net>,
"Mike Feeney" <mfe...@removeairmail.net> wrote:
> Okay, serious discussion time once again. Yeah,
> we occasionally do that here on afjb ya know.
>
It's been so long. Let's see if I remeber how. ;-)
>
> But these facts are "behind the scenes" so to
> speak. What I'd like to focus on is Connery's
> performance *on-screen* in YOLT. After just
> viewing the film 24 hours ago, it is still very fresh
> in my mind. And I have to say that I do NOT
> see a sub-par performance by Connery in YOLT!
> Whatever pressures and discontent he had
> offscreen, it did not follow him in front of the
> camera, IMO.
>
> There are several really excellent scenes which
> I would offer to support my argument.
I agree with all your examples, Mike, but I don't see those few moments
as being very representative of the whole film. Much of the blame for
what I (and, as you said, many other fans) feel is a lackluster
performance must be placed on a storyline which simply isn't ABOUT James
Bond-- it's about big sets and tiny helicopters and cars being picked up
and dropped in oceans. Bond gets lost in the shuffle and Connery has
few opportunities to do anything very interesting with the performance.
The scenes that do slow down and allow the characters to talk to each
other have dialog so lame and stilted that Connery's acting skill is
devoted to not gaggin on it. Notice, Mike, that all your examples are
moments when Connery isn't forced to mouth the inanities that Dahl
imposed on the actors in this film. It's damn hard to play Hamlet when
you're mouthing dialog from Beavis and Butthead.
> PS - Anyone else think that Karin Dor, who
> played Helga Brandt, was absolutely
> stunningly gorgeous in this film? I never
> see Helga Brandt show up in the numerous
> polls of "sexiest Bond girl", etc., but the
> next time such a poll comes around, I'm
> going to cast my vote for her! I would
> have been tempted to dive in to the
> pirahna pool to save her had I been
> there. "The things I do for England"
> indeed! :-)
>
>
In the immortal words of Mudhead, "[She's] got a balcony you could do
Shakespeare from."
--
Barry King
--
"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man
who cannot read them."
-Mark Twain
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Mac
Not really one of my favourite films in the series; but putting aside my
irritation that it jettisoned most of the wonderful Fleming novel (which I
believe would have worked cinematically), I still enjoy watching YOLT from
time to time. As a visual experience, it is second to none. Lewis Gilbert, as
with his other pictures in the series, ensures YOLT is a truly spectacular
looking Bond; Freddie Young's cinematography demands that the film be
seen only in its proper aspect ratio; and Ken Adam's sets are simply
breathtaking (I've always liked Osato's office far more than the volcano).
It's certainly not as silly as the films that followed in the next decade
- including Gilbert's own widely-praised TSWLM. As I've mentioned before,
Mike, the helicopter shot of the Kobe docks fight sequence is among my
favourite cinematic moments in the entire series, and the fight in Osato's
office has a bone-crunching, exciting style that recent films in the series
have failed to reproduce. What's missing from YOLT is substance.
The slender grasp of reality that Fleming's novels had offered the series to
that point was now, along with the novel, relinquished. The resistance to the
sets, the hardware, and, most importantly, the de-emphasis of the James Bond
character that Terence Young, Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins et al had offered
in the superlative 'Thunderball' disappeared with their departure. 'Man from
U.N.C.L.E.' writer Harold Jack Bloom and Roald Dahl concoct a tale that even
Napoleon Solo might balk at. James Bond does almost nothing but push buttons
throughout the film - he even saves the world with the push of a button.
Connery's performance? No, not the hideous, impatient, foot-tapping,
contractual obligation of a performance as many have stated - but the sparkle
had clearly gone. The writing didn't help, of course. Unlike Fleming's novel,
Bond was given little to do in EON's film of YOLT, and consequently, Connery
had little to do with a role he was beginning to resent. In fact, Connery
displayed more sparkle when he returned to have a little fun with the role in
DAF. I feel exactly the same way about Timothy Dalton in LTK; the sparkle he
had in TLD was absent in his second film. George Lazenby didn't take the
opportunity to return, and Roger Moore, God bless him, Roger never got bored
of playing James Bond, his enthusiasm was never an issue - even to those
who didn't care for his take on the role - Roger just got too old to convince
even his most devoted fans, and it was his final film that was boring. Even
after seven films, Roger was heartbroken when he finally gave up the role. I
feel Pierce Brosnan is still enjoying it.
Forget Karin Dor. Am I the only one who thinks Lois Maxwell in her white naval
suit looked more beautiful in YOLT than she did in any other Bond film?
-- Mac
"In the meantime, I got this plan. Now, it's called
'Save Ass'. The way it works is this: I slip outta
one of these windows, and I run like a bastard!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please remove SPAMLESS to reply.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Richard Ashton
> Am I the only one who thinks Lois Maxwell in her white naval
> suit looked more beautiful in YOLT than she did in any other Bond film?
I always agreed with Connery's line in DAF - Anyone seeing you in that
outfit would sorely be discouraged from leaving the country." But,
seeing her hair up in OHMSS as she switches from the flirtatious
Moneypenny to the professional Moneypenny is my fave Maxwell moment.
Having said that, I still have images of her voicing Atlanta Shore in
Stingray. Now that was an outfit (okay, so it was only a puppet).
Richard
Holvbphoto
Pinsberg <g...@artsci.wustl.edu> writes:
>She seemed to me like a cheap imitation of Fiona Volpe.
WELL! c'mon now, Isn't this the kind of women SPECTRE hires, or would hire?!
http://www.holvbphoto.com
Ohm007
I have loved this film since I saw it on the big screen in '67. It probably
had something to do with the fact I was 13, but this movie drew me into the
world of 007 and I haven't left since. For sheer spectacle, I think it's very
hard to match. Yes, as one observer has said, Connery did look somewhat like a
demonstrator in a gadget showroom, but I still think he delivered a powerhouse
performance, even with the ridiculous storyline.
I have tried never to apply logic to Bond and other action films, most of the
time it's an exercise in futility, so unbelievable sequences don't bother me as
much as they do some people. I look to Bond for entertainment, and in that I
have never been disappointed. Even the weaker entries have given me some
pleasure. Bond at this point is more than just a screen hero, he is an icon
and much of the fun comes from just hearing "Bond, James Bond" and seeing the
fantastic sets and stunts.
They on occasion slip in some character development and these small doses are
just right. If they were to do a purely character-driven film, they would risk
turning off much of the audience they've gained with the last three movies. I
and many others on this newsgroup would undoubtedly be thrilled with this
approach, but EON isn't likely to kill their golden goose just yet. Perhaps
after two or three more blockbusters, and my vote goes for a serious remake of
Casino Royale. The plot is rife with opportunities for an emotional approach
to 007, somewhat as in TWINE with Bond and Elektra. Maybe Elektra and Vesper's
scenarios are too similar, but I still think it would work.
Anyway, I still love YOLT and I think spectacle works just fine in Bond's
world.
Kronsteen
examples you cite are excellent. I wouldn't say it's necessarily his best
Bond performance, but I like it and I enjoy the film a lot -- it has
really grown on me in the last 3-4 viewings.
I always thought Karin Dor was hot. The difficulty with the Branch
character is that she (IMHO) is not given enough to do and enough time to
develop a depth to her maliciousness (just a few scenes) before she is
munched on by the piranhas. Coming on the heels of Fiona Volpe, that makes
it tough for Branch. I did always enjoy the "They use it to slice off
skin" bit, though.
Thanks for such a good post!
K
--
"But who is Bond compared to Kronsteen?"
Mike Feeney
> > > PS - Anyone else think that Karin Dor, who
> > > played Helga Brandt, was absolutely
> > > stunningly gorgeous in this film
>
> GIL
>
>
Granted, in terms of character development, Helga Brandt
certainly pales in comparison to Fiona Volpe. Fiona was
given much more screen time, much more dialogue, and
was in fact a major character in TB. Helga simply wasn't
given much more than a fleeting role in YOLT. Hence, Fiona
Volpe is an infinitely more interesting character. However,
simply on the basis of pure sexiness, I think I might have
to go with Helga. Damn she was hot!
--Mike
"Mr. Osato believes in a healthy chest." -- Helga Brandt
Mike Feeney
Barry King <barr...@my-deja.com> wrote ...
>
>
> I agree with all your examples, Mike, but I don't
> see those few moments as being very
> representative of the whole film.
>
Well, I merely offered these three examples to
support my argument. Too many posts simply
make statements such as "Connery gives a
sub-par performance in YOLT" but don't offer
any examples to back them up. Nor did I intend
to imply that these were the *only* good Connery
scenes. I can think of many more. For instance,
shortly after Blofeld declares that "we are now
impregnable", the control room is hit by one of
Tanaka's rocket guns, and the blast penetrates
the control room. Bond looks at Blofeld and
remarks, "Impregnable?" Connery delivers this
line with the perfect amount of sarcasm -- and,
in my opinion, with a smart-ass gleam in his
eye. Also, a few moments before this scene,
Bond asks Blofeld for his cigarettes. He points
the miniature rocket gun cigarette at the SPECTRE
worker who is standing by the control lever for
the volcano rooftop. While Bond is waiting for
the rocket gun to fire at this guy, Connery gives
a very convincing look of anticipation -- Bond
knows that he has to get that rooftop open and
he is anxious. Just two more brief but brilliant little
moments in this film. Again, not at all the "bored,
wooden, sub-par performance" that so many
stipulate.
>
> Much of the blame for what I (and, as you said,
> many other fans) feel is a lackluster performance
> must be placed on a storyline which simply isn't
> ABOUT James Bond-- it's about big sets and tiny
> helicopters and cars being picked up and dropped
> in oceans.
>
I don't really follow you here, Barry. Surely this
reasoning could be applied to any of the films.
TB was about nuclear missiles being hijacked by
a terrorist organization, hidden underwater, and
the ensuing underwater searches and battles.
James Bond happens to be the agent assigned
to the case. GF was about a madman's plot to
irradiate the gold depositry of the United States.
James Bond happens to be the agent assigned
to the case. Etc., etc. I don't perceive YOLT to
fall into a different category.
>
> Bond gets lost in the shuffle and Connery has
> few opportunities to do anything very interesting
> with the performance. The scenes that do slow
> down and allow the characters to talk to each
> other have dialog so lame and stilted that
> Connery's acting skill is devoted to not gagging
> on it.
>
I disagree. Sure, we don't get as many glimpses into
Bond's character and personality as we do in TB, but
that's because nearly 1/5 of that film follows Bond's
escapades at the health spa -- before he is actually
assigned to the case. TB is really an exception here;
no other film dedicates so much time to Bond when
he is not actively on assignment. I think YOLT is
pretty much up there with all the rest in terms of
giving us "James Bond". I don't see why you say
that Bond gets lost in the shuffle. Here are a couple
of examples off the top of my head.
After Bond escapes from Helga's attempt to crash
him in the plane, he meets up with Tiger and Aki.
Tiger says something to the effect of "I told you that
chasing women will be the end of you." Aki adds "But
he wouldn't have touched that horrible woman, I know
it." And Bond's reply -- a classic Bond reply -- is
"Oh heaven forbid." And again Connery delivers
it perfectly! Another example of "giving us Bond"
is after he defeats his opponent in the fight scene
in Osato's office. He drags the guy into the walk-in
liquour cabinet. On the way out, he pauses and
then decides to stop and pour himself a drink.
I'd be worried about getting out of there as soon
as possible -- but this is James Bond! So he
pours himself a drink -- and then Connery gives
a great expression to show that he doesn't like
it! "Japanese vodka?" he mutters to himself.
This is great stuff, Barry! James Bond likes to
think of himself as a bit of a snob -- or at least
as to having rather sophisticated tastes. This
comment about the Japanese vodka not suiting
his requirements is perfectly in character.
>
> Notice, Mike, that all your examples are
> moments when Connery isn't forced to mouth
> inanities that Dahl imposed on the actors in this
> film. It's damn hard to play Hamlet when
> you're mouthing dialog from Beavis and Butthead.
>
>
No offense, Barry, but I think you may be basing
a lot of your dislike for the film on the fact that
it didn't follow Fleming's original novel. Sure, we
all wish that the films had followed the original
source material much more closely and had
been filmed in the correct order (hence OHMSS
would have come before YOLT).
But for whatever reasons, this was not the case
and I think we have to judge the resulting films
out of that context. Forget about whether
or not it radically deviates from the source
material. As a "James Bond film", I think YOLT
delivers much, much more than the vast majority
of the series. I really am in awe of this film, and
I honestly find it startling that so many regulars
here dismiss it as Bond-lite. I am trying to
understand why.
GSHATTERHAND
lost in the shuffle and Connery has >few opportunities to do anything very
interesting with the performance.
IMHO Barry has concisely stated exactly why YOLT is not a superior Bond film.
In my own words, there just doesn't seem to be any room for Connery to be Bond
or for real tension to develop in any of the action scenes.
The fight with the fierce looking Japanese villain in Osato's office is one of
my favorite Bond fights in the entire series
Also, the special effects in the helicopter fight are so poor I find them
distracting. The only special effects in the series that bother me to that
degree.
It's a good Bond film just not one of my favorites.
GSHATTERHAND
>after seven films, Roger was heartbroken when he finally gave up the role
I didn't know that. And for some reason hearing it made me both personally sad
and very fond of Roger. I always imagined that actually being James Bond to
millions of fans, and then relinquishing the role, would be a difficult thing
to do but never knew any of the Bonds felt the same way.
Did Roger really make it clear in print or film that he was "heartbroken"
giving up the role?
Mac
I don't know if Roger said exactly that in print, but in Cubby Broccoli's 'When
The Snow Melts' the story relating Roger's departure from the series is quite
touching; and if one reads between the lines, one is given that impression.
Despite comments from film critics about his advancing age, and even
acknowledging it himself, Roger attended a meeting with Cubby believing it to
be about 'The Living Daylights', his next picture as 007 - it wasn't. It was
about Cubby's desire to bring in a new actor as Bond. Cubby states that Roger
took it, as always, like a gentlemen and voiced his agreement. However, he also
mentions that, initially, Moore was shocked when Cubby announced his plans.
-- Mac
"James Bond playing at Casino Royale, he won
a lot of money and a gal at Casino Royale.
Oh he's not really such a wonderful spy, but winning
lots of money and a gal he's a fabulous guy..."
Richard Ashton
>
> I don't know if Roger said exactly that in print, but in Cubby Broccoli's 'When
> The Snow Melts' the story relating Roger's departure from the series is quite
> touching; and if one reads between the lines, one is given that impression.
> Despite comments from film critics about his advancing age, and even
> acknowledging it himself, Roger attended a meeting with Cubby believing it to
> be about 'The Living Daylights', his next picture as 007 - it wasn't. It was
> about Cubby's desire to bring in a new actor as Bond. Cubby states that Roger
> took it, as always, like a gentlemen and voiced his agreement. However, he also
> mentions that, initially, Moore was shocked when Cubby announced his plans.
>
And there's more. Back in 86 when the Brosnan thing blew up, the LA
Times reported that Moore was being re-considered for TLD as they had
yet to sign a 007 and the production was iminent. Dalton's signing came
some weeks later.
Also, Moore did host the 1987 'Happy Anniversary, 007" show and was
essentially 'playing' Bond in that.
Richard
gb...@my-deja.com
<7811C05DFB07E0BF.3932A843...@lp.airnews.net>,
"Mike Feeney" <mfe...@removeairmail.net> wrote:
> played Helga Brandt, was absolutely
> see Helga Brandt show up in the numerous
> polls of "sexiest Bond girl", etc., but the
> next time such a poll comes around, I'm
> going to cast my vote for her! I would
> have been tempted to dive in to the
> pirahna pool to save her had I been
> there. "The things I do for England"
> indeed! :-)
I would have to agree; she really seemed to relish her encounters with
Mr. Bond. Others have likened her a cheap copy of Fiona Volpe, but she
doesn't turn me on much; too much of a cold fish.
blkb...@postoffice.pacbell.net
I would like to state that YOLT is my "guiltiest pleasure" of all JB movies.
Bond pushes buttons in this film; but then again, what does he do in GF?
There he seduces Pussy Galore and opens the top of the "nuclear device" so a
guy from the Department of Energy can defuse it with a flip of a switch.
There is one problem I have with Sean's portrayal though (in those few
moments we are allowed decent dialogue). It's in the Ninja Training Scenes,
where Bond is bucking for his role in the job. His "What about me?" is so
whiny and irritating as to be the worst Bond line ever. I hated that line,
as it ruined Connery's Bond throughout the rest of the movie for me, as I
half expected him to whine "But I wanna go!" like a put-upon three-year-old
who has been denied one more trip to the toy store.
Just an observation. Also, I have no idea who came up with the "That was
stirred, not shaken?"-"Perfect!" exchange, but Ian must have been
approaching a rotary speed that threatened to splatter his remains over the
inside of his sarcophagus the moment that was filmed...
Mike Anderson
Electric Angel
think Sean Connery turned in a sub par performace on YOLT. THE
SCREENPLAY WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. It was by far the worst screenplay
of all the Bond films. The producers asked a totally inexperienced
screenwriter (Roald Dahl) to write it and he didn't know what he was
doing.
Mamet was right. If the writer doesn't fuel the actor with the need to
speak, what do you expect?
Peter Greenhill
Excellent post Mike.
Connery is a professional. He knows he is getting a lot of money and will
always produce his best for any project, including YOLT.
Pete