Being Bond

For many, the best James Bond ever, Connery brought the super agent to life in the first Bond film — Dr.No — and followed it up with six more 007 adventures — From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Never Say Never Again and Diamonds Are Forever. He reportedly bagged the role in Dr.No over far more established actors because of his “sex appeal” and went on to give us many a memorable Bond mood and moment. Including the most iconic: “The name’s Bond. James Bond”.

The man who would be king

Connery teamed up with longtime friend Michael Caine in this adventure outing based on the Rudyard Kipling novella of the same name. The two played English military officers stationed in India who travel to the isolated land of Kafiristan, where they are ultimately embraced by the people and revered as rulers. Peppered with irony and humour — a lot of it coming from Connery — the film qualifies as escapist entertainment, distinguished by the chemistry and camaraderie between its lead pair.

The hill

A powerful and uncompromising look at the inside of a British military prison in North Africa during World War II, Sidney Lumet’s 1965 drama benefited from some towering performances, led by Connery. Though a box-office failure, The Hill earned excellent reviews, and is today considered a film that winningly blends adventure and excitement with realism and thought.

The Untouchables

This 1987 Brian De Palma cop-and-gangster saga set during Prohibition Era also starred the likes of Robert De Niro and Kevin Costner, but all eyes were on Sean Connery’s principled Irish beat cop Jimmy Malone. Connery brought both charm and coolth to the part, particularly in Malone’s most famous monologue — and definitely the most memorable line from the film — in which he advises Costner’s Ness, “You want to know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That’s the Chicago way.” Connery’s only Oscar — that for Best Supporting Actor — was won for this film. After he passed on, Costner chose to remember Connery as “a man’s man” and “the biggest star I ever worked with”.

The hunt for red october

Based on Tom Clancy’s eponymous read, this 1990 Cold War thriller was made immensely watchable by Connery’s turn as a rogue Soviet naval captain with a plan to defect to the US.

It’s the actor’s magnetic presence, coupled with an edge-of-the-seat plot, that makes this superbly crafted thriller one that’s aged well.

The rock

If you are looking for a pulpy adventure that takes your mind off Year 2020 for a few hours, then it doesn’t get better than The Rock. Michael Bay’s snazzy slam-bang action thriller was made watchable by the buddy-movie interplay between Connery and Nicolas Cage, with the older actor’s galvanising presence and wry humour taking it a few notches higher.

Talking of dry wit and buddy chemistry, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (inset) — made memorable by Connery playing dad to Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones, with the two lifting the franchise with their dynamite double act — is a Connery film we keep going back to.