Honor Blackman ranks Connery as best Bond

edited January 2014 in Actors Posts: 4,622
From the Mi6 home page news items.

http://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=11226&t=mi6&s=news

==
Blackman is currently touring the UK with a one-woman show about her career, and had this to say about the debate on Connery vs Craig as the best Bond:
"Daniel is a terrific actor but I don’t think anyone will be anything like Sean, they’re not allowed to be now. The Bond that Ian Fleming wrote, they are not allowed to be now. That Bond was suave, good looking. Sean played him perfectly because you believed that he would bed a woman and then calmly put a bullet through her head and then go and have a martini and not bother."
"Dan could do anything but he’s not allowed to any more. He has to care about his women – he has to fall in love and Bond never did anything so silly."
===

She may be a tad hard on Craiger, but I very much relate to the general sentiment - ie Connery is gold standard.
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Comments

  • Posts: 2,402
    She's completely wrong about Bond from the books. Has she even read the novels?
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Her views are someways off but she's right, Connery is the bloody best.
  • edited January 2014 Posts: 11,189
    Who cares if she hasn't. She was one of the most famous Bond girls of all.

    Besides Bond of the books WAS good looking - he was described as such in Casino Royale if I recall. Suave? I'm not so sure. Connery added that bit.
  • Posts: 2,402
    Connery (and really Terence Young) injected the suave into Bond.

    And it matters a damn sight whether she's read the books or not if she's going to use them in her argument.
  • timmer wrote:
    he has to fall in love and Bond never did anything so silly.

    Except he did. In the books. Twice.

    And where has this stuff about Flemings Bond being a ruthless killer come from? Fleming's Bond would sleep with a woman then have a martini and not be bothered? No he wouldn't. He couldn't even bring himself to shoot Scaramanga in the back of the head, so he wouldn't f**k a girl and then kill her straight afterwards and not care.

    Sean's Bond was great but the Bond she's describing isn't the one Ian Fleming wrote, and Craig's Bond is one of the closest to Fleming we've had imo.
  • Posts: 1,548
    Can't blame her for being biased. Connery was her Bond.
  • Posts: 2,402
    LeChiffre wrote:
    Can't blame her for being biased. Connery was her Bond.

    Thats exactly what I felt like saying. She was probably one of his real life affairs as well. She's just trying to stay relevant by namedropping the books even though she's clearly never read them.
  • edited January 2014 Posts: 4,622
    Book Bond was quite suave. Connery and Young didn't invent that. Rather Young just polished up Connery.
    Blackman is a tad off re the books, as far as Bond falling in love though. Book Bond did fall for the girls, quite often actually, but without losing his hard 00 edge when he needed it.
    Connery Bond (and Rog Bond too) were virtually immune to messy emotional attachments with the girls, although you could argue that Fleming's Bond was quite similar in this regard, in that outwardly, minus insight to his inner workings, he might also have appeared rather ambivalent to his female attachments.
    It's not like he mooned over Tiffany Case in public, or got too puppy doggish over other girlfriends that he got somewhat attached to such as Domino and Solitaire.
    Fleming's Bond was quite the utilitarian agent and very receptive to the casual affair ie Viviene Michel etc.
  • edited January 2014 Posts: 11,189
    She may have read one or two several years ago but I suspect that was about it. She did say rightfully that Pussy was originally a lesbian.

    I too have always been a bit iffy about the whole "ruthless killer" thing. Yes he was a killer but he had a soul. In From Russia With Love Kerim said he was "soft".

    I think there is a little bit of Fleming's Bond in early Connery but the more troubled aspects (a fairly big part of the literary character) were diluted.
  • edited January 2014 Posts: 4,622
    She is somewhat guilty of confusing Fleming's Bond with Connery's Bond. I doubt she's read all of the books, maybe a couple (Goldfinger presumably).
    I think she is assuming that Connery's Bond was based very closely on Fleming's Bond. She's not completely wrong though, but unless you've read the books, you wouldn't know how Connery's Bond was actually extrapolated from Fleming's Bond.
    Personally I find Young and Connery did an exemplary job translating Bond to the big screen. Minus access to inner workings, Connery's Bond I think was a pretty good realization of how Fleming's Bond might have appeared to the world at large- villains, superiors, women etc.
  • LeChiffre wrote:
    Can't blame her for being biased. Connery was her Bond.

    Thats exactly what I felt like saying. She was probably one of his real life affairs as well. She's just trying to stay relevant by namedropping the books even though she's clearly never read them.

    She's almost 90; it's unlikely that she has any great need to stay relevant at this point. It's also entirely possible that in the 50 years since she was in a Bond film, and possibly read the books, things got confused in her mind. It's been known to happen.

    On another note, she also called Sir Sean the sexiest man she's ever met, which I think is on the Goldfinger Special Edition DVD.
  • Posts: 11,189
    I saw her in Kingston (London) last year. Very glamorous woman and obviously still adored Connery.
  • timmer wrote:
    From the Mi6 home page news items.

    http://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=11226&t=mi6&s=news

    ==
    Blackman is currently touring the UK with a one-woman show about her career, and had this to say about the debate on Connery vs Craig as the best Bond:
    "Daniel is a terrific actor but I don’t think anyone will be anything like Sean, they’re not allowed to be now. The Bond that Ian Fleming wrote, they are not allowed to be now. That Bond was suave, good looking. Sean played him perfectly because you believed that he would bed a woman and then calmly put a bullet through her head and then go and have a martini and not bother."
    "Dan could do anything but he’s not allowed to any more. He has to care about his women – he has to fall in love and Bond never did anything so silly."
    ===

    She may be a tad hard on Craiger, but I very much relate to the general sentiment - ie Connery is gold standard.

    Is that between Connery and Craig themselves, or with all Bond actors together ? If the latter, then they both lose out as Dalton was the best Bond, or as I always say, the closest to what Fleming intended

    Seems going over familiar territory once again, but this tired debate can be usually be summarized by saying while Craig is a very good Bond, he simply doesn't measure up to the early Connery appearances in so many ways (for reasons doubtless already elaborated on and no need for duplication) and once again, isn't on the same plateau as Timothy Dalton and his two superlative performances of the iconic character

    While Blackman would obviously favor Sean, I think by Goldfinger he was past his supreme best but for his two performances of '62 and '63, the actor did such a stellar job of bringing Bond to the big screen, I don't think it has been beaten yet. Only Dalton of the late 1980s comes close or perhaps went one better, and it's always a tough decision to choose between them. As mentioned, maybe Dalton just has that slight lead as of now
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    I can find facets of Fleming's Bond in all of the actor's portrayals albeit some much more than others. Connery from DN, Lazenby, Dalton from TLD and Craig from CR remind me of the character from the novels the most. However, I wouldn't go as far to say that any one of them is Fleming's Bond to me as I always imagined someone else entirely when I read the novels.

    It's not really a surprise to me that Blackman would say this. She did star with Connery in the most popular (as far as the general public is concerned) Bond film of all time. I think I understand where she's coming from as well. Connery had the advantage of playing Bond in a time period that wasn't too far off from when the novels were written. Perhaps those early films do capture the zeitgeist of an era that's long since passed away and no Bond film could truly emulate ever again.
  • Posts: 825
    Well that true about Sean Connery as the Best Bond. I believe Ursula Address & Jill St.John & his unofficial Kim Basinger would say that too. Honour Blackman was A View to a Kill star Patrick McNee star in the Avengers Honour Blackman been in Roger Moore Saint series, DrWho & many places as guest.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited January 2014 Posts: 13,999
    I'm not surprised, she was in a Connery:Bond film, not only that, but Connery is the stock choice for those whom have not seen all the films, or read the books.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I love Pussy, but clearly she is biased. I suspect they had a roll in the hay after shooting as well. Bless her though.
  • Dragonpol2Dragonpol2 The Crazy World of Daniel Dragonpol
    Posts: 145
    Not really a surprising choice as she played opposite Sean Connery, but who else could she pick really? Think about that.
  • Dragonpol2 wrote:
    Not really a surprising choice as she played opposite Sean Connery, but who else could she pick really? Think about that.

    I think that's about the size of the whole issue. Maud Adams would favor Moore for instance, Carey Lowell Dalton, Olga Kurylenko Craig, Famke Jansenn Brosnan, although not sure Rigg would pick Lazenby as a favorite choice, after their differences during production. It would be interesting to hear Andress' view on whether Connery was best Bond, or even Bianchi or Claudine Auger for example, but whatever is said, Sean usually comes in at second place for me for true Bond greatness

  • Dragonpol2Dragonpol2 The Crazy World of Daniel Dragonpol
    Posts: 145
    Dragonpol2 wrote:
    Not really a surprising choice as she played opposite Sean Connery, but who else could she pick really? Think about that.

    I think that's about the size of the whole issue. Maud Adams would favor Moore for instance, Carey Lowell Dalton, Olga Kurylenko Craig, Famke Jansenn Brosnan, although not sure Rigg would pick Lazenby as a favorite choice, after their differences during production. It would be interesting to hear Andress' view on whether Connery was best Bond, or even Bianchi or Claudine Auger for example, but whatever is said, Sean usually comes in at second place for me for true Bond greatness

    Thank you. Who is first place in your personal Bond actor rankings?
  • Timothy Dalton

    Then Connery a very close second, Craig third, then Moore, Brosnan and Lazenby

    Poor George always ends up in last place, but once again, that's not an indication he was a poor Bond, just didn't make enough films to give a proper evaluation
  • Dragonpol2Dragonpol2 The Crazy World of Daniel Dragonpol
    Posts: 145
    Timothy Dalton

    Then Connery a very close second, Craig third, then Moore, Brosnan and Lazenby

    Poor George always ends up in last place, but once again, that's not an indication he was a poor Bond, just didn't make enough films to give a proper evaluation

    Yes, Timothy Dalton's my personal favourite as well, though I like them all as they all gave something special to the role of the world's most famous fictional secret agent.
  • timmer wrote:
    From the Mi6 home page news items.

    http://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=11226&t=mi6&s=news

    ==
    Blackman is currently touring the UK with a one-woman show about her career, and had this to say about the debate on Connery vs Craig as the best Bond:
    "Daniel is a terrific actor but I don’t think anyone will be anything like Sean, they’re not allowed to be now. The Bond that Ian Fleming wrote, they are not allowed to be now. That Bond was suave, good looking. Sean played him perfectly because you believed that he would bed a woman and then calmly put a bullet through her head and then go and have a martini and not bother."
    "Dan could do anything but he’s not allowed to any more. He has to care about his women – he has to fall in love and Bond never did anything so silly."
    ===

    She may be a tad hard on Craiger, but I very much relate to the general sentiment - ie Connery is gold standard.

    Is that between Connery and Craig themselves, or with all Bond actors together ? If the latter, then they both lose out as Dalton was the best Bond, or as I always say, the closest to what Fleming intended

    I'm not so sure that Connery is the best in my own opinion but I wouldn't be angered by it. Craig is my number 1 just feel his Bond has more emotional punch to him.

    Only die hard forum Bond fan's think Dalton is the best, he lacks the charisma of Craig and Connery and the wit. Fleming books are different thing altogether. This is Bond on the Big screen not Bond of the novels. Connery and Craig for me have got Bond nailed in the way it should be played.

    I think Connery is the best Bond but Craig gives the better performances, if that makes any sense. Still think Craig performances in CR, QOS and SF are the best given by any Bond actor. It's a little harsh, Craig only falls in love with one woman, Vesper. Their were Bond fan's on here complaining about how cold hearted Craig's Bond was in Skyfall after the death of Severine. So I think Blackman is misinformed.

  • edited January 2014 Posts: 4,622
    "Dan could do anything but he’s not allowed to any more. He has to care about his women – he has to fall in love and Bond never did anything so silly."
    ===
    Based on the above quote she is not only, not surprisingly, firmly declaring Sean as the best Bond, but also taking a shot at the manner in which Craig's Bond is portrayed on screen, never mind the actor.
    She doesn't seem to mind Craig as Bond per se, "Daniel is a terrific actor," but rather she laments "... I don’t think anyone will be anything like Sean, they’re not allowed to be now."
    She doesn't like Bond wearing emotions all over his sleeves and especially falling for his girls, or not being interested in bedding them (Camille) or running off before consumating (Solange).
    Connery's Bond remained emotionally detached (but for fleeting glimpses) from his women and always had time to finish what he started (Sylvia Trench) before running off on mission. That's the Bond Blackman would like to see back.
    She blames the filmmakers not so much Craig.
    Although I think what she's missing or possibly she's just being polite, is that Craig, I think, is acutally very much down with the filmmakers. He doesn't want to do Connery's Bond. That will have to wait for a new actor-director combo.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,585
    Her point is that the sexism of the films has been filtered out. The way Connery's Bond treated his women is no longer the done thing, so when she says "they're not allowed to be now.." she means they aren't allowed to slap the girl or pat her bottom, and then simply amble off to the bar.

    She has been championing Connery for decades, and never tires of doing so. It's unnecessary of course because Connery's reputation is (rightly) secure.

    Whether he is Fleming's Bond or not is hardly an important factor. The films and the books are separate things - no one (apart from die hard fans) cares less whether an actor captures Fleming's Bond. 99% don't even know who Fleming is. It simply isn't important. What is important is if the actor commands the screen and connects with the audience. I keep reading on here how Dalton is Fleming's Bond, and therefore the 'greatest' Bond. And I think so what? If he doesn't sell tickets at the B.O. then he's not the greatest Bond at all, he's the worst.

    Of course I'm not saying he's the worst...that's personal opinion ;-)

  • Posts: 2,341
    This doesn't surprise me. Of course she would be partial to Connery. He was the actor who played with her. And Old Desmond's idea remains true:
    "For anyone the best Bond is the one you first saw."
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited February 2014 Posts: 13,356
    Not for me and quite a few others, I bet.

    Actors are always loyal to the Bond actor they starred with.
  • edited February 2014 Posts: 11,189
    I think for A LOT of people there is a fondness for the first Bond they saw - not everybody but I'd say the majority. I know I have one for Broz.

    Maybe Des should have said the first actor to get them into Bond - that's usually the first person they see.
  • Posts: 19,339
    Samuel001 wrote:
    Not for me and quite a few others, I bet.

    Actors are always loyal to the Bond actor they starred with.

    Once again we think the same old pal...spot on on both points.

  • Posts: 2,402
    OHMSS69 wrote:
    This doesn't surprise me. Of course she would be partial to Connery. He was the actor who played with her. And Old Desmond's idea remains true:
    "For anyone the best Bond is the one you first saw."

    It's funny, it seems I'm the only person who this rule doesn't apply to. My first Bond was Brosnan (TWINE), I also saw Connery (TB) and Moore (FYEO) before I saw Dalton (TLD).
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