SEAN CONNERY: His Life and Films

by Michael Feeney Callan ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1983

Though cutesily overwritten and not especially revealing, this celebrity-bio is two or three cuts above Kenneth Passingham's limp Connery book (p. 234), with the biggest improvement coming in Callan's serviceably detailed discussion of each and every Connery film. (Passingham barely mentioned the non-Bond movies.) Callan begins by announcing that Connery could have challenged the Bond shadow ""more vociferously and succeeded better in exorcising the ghost."" In the superficial narrative that follows, however, there's no real insight into Connery's career choices: Callan contradicts himself throughout, sometimes suggesting that Connery was too cautious, sometimes too headstrong. There's full discussion of the poor Edinburgh background--fitness, football, and money-making labor preferred to schooling. Then, after a brief Navy stint, came the bodybuilding that led to Sean's first walk-on/chorus jobs, his serious interest in theater, a lucky TV break (Requiem for a Heavyweight)--followed by disgruntled years as a Hollywood contract-player. (Like Passingham, Callan merely passes on rumors re a real affair with Lana Turner: he ""had Hollywood incarnate in his arms and he did with it what he did most effortlessly--he made love."") Next, of course: the Bond explosion, with etiquette guidance from director Terence Young and overall guidance from a social, intellectual new wife, Diane Cilento. But, by the mid-1960s, the Bond films had gotten too cartoony, Connery set off ""in search of a character,"" coming up with big box-office losers (as well as a winner, The Anderson Tapes). So there was a brief Bond return in '71--followed by The Offence (a critical success), Zardoz (""ahead of its time""), The Man Who Would Be King (he ""finally outpaced Bond and created his richest character"") . . . plus a recent string of downers starting with Cuba (1979). And now? Back to Bond again, happy with wife #2, ""quite gladly facing back--relying on his acquired expertise but, most significantly, exploring his capacities and strengths."" Despite lots of soggy, clichÉd prose: a decent run-of-the-mill star biography, with genuine (if superficial) interest in Connery's stereotype bind and his problematic individualism.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Stein & Day

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1983

Categories: NONFICTION