SEAN CONNERY: A Biography

by Kenneth Passingham ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1983

Slightly better-written but even duller than other recent low-level celebrity bios, this small book doggedly fills out Connery's film career with quotes and anecdotes--but never captures the appeal of the James Bond phenomenon(or, for that matter, of Connery's best non-Bond movies). After a working-class childhood in Edinburgh, hardworking, individualistic Sean (nÉ Tommy) joined the Navy, became a laborer, but also got into body-building--and from there into show-biz: chorus-boy work, followed by small parts in TV and movies. A BBC role in Requiem for a Heavyweight brought a Hollywood contract--complete with a rumored affair with Lana Turner. (Passingham breathlessly muses on Connery's pre-marital love lire, with tacky first-person testimony from a bedmate or two: ""Ail I can say is that he was warm, sweet and lovable."") Then came the Bond breakthrough; Connery tried to preserve Ms privacy; utterly without vanity, he hated the toupÉe needed for Bond imagery; he soon tired of the formula but couldn't walk away from all the money (lots about business deals here); ""for a thriving capitalist,' however, ""he remained staunchly sympathetic to the workers."" Finally, though, while his marriage to volatile Diane Cilento crumbled, he made the break into non-Bond stardom, establishing himself as ""a truly fine character actor"" in The Man Who Would Be King. (The film itself, however, is barely discussed.) And now, married to wife #2, Connery has settled some financial problems and will be appearing as Bond once again. From Britain with tedium.

Pub Date: April 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1983

Categories: NONFICTION