The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sean Connery movies to stream
C. 2020 The New York Times
Sean Connery died Oct. 31 at the age of 90. Best known for originating the role of James Bond in movies, the Scottish actor had a career that lasted nearly 60 years, most of which he spent playing a variety of “man’s man” roles — from suave spies to violent brutes. At a time when most popular British thespians were known as Shakespearean-trained aesthetes, Connery became an international star with a screen presence that was earthier and sexier.
These movies go beyond Bond (though there a couple of can’t-miss 007 adventures in there) to illustrate how Connery commanded the screen, from his roguish youth to his distinguished latter years.
‘From Russia With Love’ (1963):
“Dr. No” introduced James Bond to the big screen, but the second film in the series beefed up the mythology, expanding the entire concept of a superspy suavely combating would-be world conquerors. In the character’s first heyday, Connery grounded the increasingly outlandish gadgets, villains, sidekicks, and femmes fatale. While later Bonds (including some played by Connery) would became almost too cartoonishly glib, the 007 in “From Russia With Love” has a certain gruff gravity, even as he’s effortlessly seducing women and dispatching SPECTRE operatives. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play and Vudu.
‘Goldfinger’ (1964):
The third of the Connery Bonds established many tropes of the series: the stand-alone pre-credits action sequence, a tricked-out Aston Martin DB5, the eye-catching international locales and an array of silly gadgetry. (Bond is advised never to use the passenger-side ejector seat button, which of course only raises expectations.) “Goldfinger” is absurd beyond parody, with one of the best evil-villain schemes in the franchise, and its lightness of touch makes it a standout among early 007 adventures. It’s the sort of movie where Bond has to free himself from a metal slab while a laser beam slowly moves toward his body. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play and Vudu.
‘Marnie’ (1964):
In one of Alfred Hitchcock’s more disturbing thrillers, Connery plays the wealthy Mark Rutland, drawn to Marnie (played by Tippi Hedren), whom he knows to be psychologically damaged. He marries her anyway, and dedicates time and resources to fixing her wide range of problems — from kleptomania to a violent fear of sex. As played by Connery, Mark can be seen either as the kindly guardian of a troubled person or as a total sicko who gets off on controlling someone too broken to fight back. Stream it on Peacock Premium. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
‘The Man Who Would Be King’ (1975):
Connery had one of his best screen partners in Michael Caine, in director John Huston’s extraordinarily entertaining adaptation of Rudyard
Kipling’s rip-roaring novella. The pair play globe-hopping mercenaries and con men who stumble into an Afghan community where they’re briefly hailed as gods. A tongue-in-cheek take on old-fashioned Victorian adventure, the film sees Connery doing what’s almost a spoof of the classic British pulp hero — more dim and thuggish than noble. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
‘Robin and Marian’ (1976):
A film about aging and almost-forgotten legends, Richard Lester’s 1976 historical romance “Robin and Marian” has Connery as Robin Hood, returning from the Crusades to find Nottingham’s poor still suffering, the Merry Men scattered, and Maid Marian (Audrey Hepburn) living a life of anonymous service as a nun. Typical of Lester, there’s an enjoyable casualness to “Robin and Marian,” even as the heroes are worrying that they’re too past their prime to escape certain death. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
‘The Great Train Robbery’ (1979):
Director Michael Crichton’s crackling adaptation of his own novel has nothing more or less on its mind than delivering a twisty, entertaining little caper, and it pays off handsomely. Looking resplendent in their mid-1800s top hats and mutton chops, Connery and Donald Sutherland are an appealingly roguish team of thieves conspiring to steal a gold shipment from a moving train. Crichton devotes himself to detailing the complicated
logistics of the heist; fun and suspense follow. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV and Vudu.
‘The Untouchables’ (1987):
Connery won the best supporting actor Oscar for his robustly entertaining turn as Jim Malone, an Irish American police officer who risks his neck to help Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) assemble a team and bring Al Capone (Robert De Niro) to justice in Prohibition-era Chicago. Connery’s speech about “The Chicago Way” is the standout and it’s also illustrative of the partnership that anchors the film, with Malone providing the muscle and moxie essential for Ness to get Capone. “The Untouchables” is also crackerjack entertainment, reconciling the ostentatious style of director Brian De Palma with the studio sheen of a Hollywood prestige production. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989):
Even though director Steven Spielberg added Connery to the “Indiana Jones” universe primarily as a nod to the actor’s James Bond persona, he fits perfectly alongside Harrison Ford — two growly action heroes playing characters who deftly defy death on a daily basis. As Indy’s emotionally distant father, Connery brings some poignancy to the franchise, and perhaps was even responsible for loosening Spielberg up a bit. “Last Crusade” is lighter and funnier than any other film in the series, with a refreshing smoothness to the storytelling. Stream it on Netflix. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.
‘The Hunt for Red October’ (1990):
The first and best of the Jack Ryan thrillers casts Connery as a rogue Russian submarine captain who enters into a dangerous cat-andmouse game with Alec Baldwin’s Ryan, who has to figure out whether the officer intends to defect to America or threaten its eastern shore with a nuclear payload. Connery’s Russian accent may be suspect, but his stolid yet soulful presence in “The Hunt for Red October” is critical to the dramatic tension, which hinges on hidden motives and shrewd calculation. Rent it on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.