—Sean Connery, RIP 1930 — 2020
Uncredited Photographer, Sean Connery Appearing in “The Seashell,” King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1959
Portrait of Girl Dressed in Blue
1641
oil on canvas
Dimensions: Height: 82 cm (32.2 in); Width: 66.5 cm (26.1 in)
Collection: Rijksmuseum
Poppy, June 2020
Photo by John Dominis
—Sean Connery
Connery and Brigitte Bardot co-starred in the very interesting but little seen western, Shalako, 1968.
Elaine May (born Elaine Iva Berlin; 1932 —) and Mike Nichols (born Mikhail Igor Peschkowsky; 1931 – 2014) , New York City, 1960
Photo by Paul Schutzer
Photo by John Dominis
—Sean Connery
Photo by David Fokos
“No, this isn’t the beginning to the latest Disney movie — it’s more eerie than that: all of these Gothic-style buildings lie empty, forming an ethereal, abandoned ghost town. Burj Al Babas is a $200 million housing development, located near Mudurnu, in northwestern Turkey, roughly midway between Istanbul and Ankara. When the developers, Sarot Property Group, fell into recession-fueled financial difficulty in 2018, the hundreds of castle-style villas were abandoned, mid-construction…” More here.
I’ve preferred to think of “The Rock” as the story of what happened to the real Bond after the clowns took over.
Even though there was some ridicule of Connery and his accent in “Red October” it is one of my favorite roles he played.
The watch is interesting but I can’t imagine trying to quickly see what time it is. I am still nursing my 40 year old Rolex. I spent $500 to have it serviced two years ago but the shop is in California.
Steve McQueen is still a favorite. I sat my kids down a few years ago and had them watch his version of “Thomas Crown.” They had not realized how good it was.
I have a Rolex bought in 1971 – for believe it or not, $125 in a Jewelry shop in Geneva. It cost me $1600 to have it overhauled a few years ago and it still is slow at times keeping time. But I like it. I was told that around the country there are only 125 or so Rolex-certified watchmakers.
Steve McQueen – one of my favorites too! I think it is on Netflix, but there is a documentary on the making of LeMans – apparently that was a near disaster that almost broke McQueen. But I think it is one of the greatest car racing movies made.
One of my favorite Connery movies is The Rock, although Red October is up there, too.
He made a funny quote about difficult directors, but I don’t believe Robert would care for any vulgarity on his blog, so I shall refrain from posting it.
I’ve seen those Turkish castles before. Depending on how things turn out here, they might be a good place for Americans to hide out for the next four or, heaven forbid, eight years.
Sean Connery was, to me, the only Bond. Even at his roughest, there was always a flash of humor and wryness behind his eyes which no one – not Moore, Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan or the dour Craig – ever captured. I like to think that he’s on the first tee of heaven’s country club now with Hawker, his caddy, and smiling at Gert Frobe as he asks, “Strict rules of golf, Goldfinger?”
Those Bulgarian “book benches” are wonderful. I wish I had one in my garden.
I’ve seen “The Mask of Fu Manchu.” Loy is – well, if you didn’t come away from that movie thinking you’d take her over the anemic Karen Morley, you just don’t have any red blood!
I hope you and yours have a lovely weekend, Robert.
Sean Connery was an enjoyable actor to watch. To me he was, in a way, like John Wayne. Perhaps he didn’t have the greatest range, but you knew when you saw a 007 film that the good guy was going to win, he’d get the girl, and there would be action galore. (see what I did there?) It was escapism at its finest. A predictable outcome, but easily worth the price of admission.
I like the innovative dial on the watch, but I won’t be paying $61k for it any time soon.
I may have to watch Shalako. If I can find it online.
I have to admit that I have never heard to Nichols and May until now. Apparently quite the sensation, but the height of their popularity was just around my birth.
The Turkish housing fiasco is interesting. I wonder how it will turn out. Will they re-purpose it and salvage the structures, will they bull-doze it and re-purpose the land, or will it be a really creepy place to visit in 2120?
I would not have recognized Myrna from that photo.
When I see your grandson wearing the Mets hat, my mind recalls the photo of you father wearing one.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Prophet Joe — Why the reference to range or lack of it? Movie stars do not exhibit range. No funny noses or padded tummies. They are cool guys and hot babes, which is at least part of the reason Agnes Moorehead was not one of them, nor Harry DAvenport. Know what I mean?
I understand perfectly, but to be fair, I referenced “actor” and you reference “movie stars”. They are not the same thing. Tom Cruise, Sean Connery, and John Wayne fall into the latter category. Agnes Moorehead, Harry Davenport, and J.K. Simmons are in the former category, and a few individuals, like Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks, fall into both. (IMHO)
Joe, movie stars are actors who work for larger fees and have enormous followings. All part of the same thing.