Top 5 Sean Connery films

To celebrate the life of Sean Connery   we look at his top five films.  Whatever can be said about the man it cannot be denied that he was one of the greatest film stars of all time.  In a career that will be defined by being the original James Bond (we have decided to only put one on the list) he was much more than that and was a leading man for five decades.

5. The Man Who Would Be King

John Huston’s adaptation of the Kipling classic short story brought together the two icons of 60s spy cinema. This Victorian-era adventure sees two soldiers set out to be make themselves king of an Afgan province. Like a British Butch and Sundance, Connery and Caine (good friends in reallife) sometimes look like they are having way to much fun in this historical caper.

4. Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade

Steve Spielberg and George Lucas created Indiana Jones to be America’s answer to James Bond. So, when casting Indy’s father for the third adventure there was only one choice. Playing a very anti-action hero Connery steals the film playing against type in this rollicking adventure.

3. The Hill

This was Connery’s first attempt to prove that he was something more than Bond. This military prison drama, directed by Sidney Lumet, was ignored on release by critics because of Connery’s involvement but overtime has become a highly regarded anti-establishment psychological drama.

2. The Untouchables

The film that got him his Oscar. Connery shines as Malone, a tough Irish beat cop, who teaches Kevin Costner’s Eliot Ness the Chicago way in the battle against Al Capone.  With a cracking script by David Mamet and directed by Brian De Palma at his peak this is one of the finest cop thrillers of all time.

1. Goldfinger

Connery’s third outing as 007 was the one that cemented the template for the franchise and action films for years to come. This is his most effortless performance of Bond and the one that defined him as an icon.  The success of this film set up ‘Thunderball’ to become the highest grossing film of all time (at the time) and lead Connery to become the first actor to get a million dollars paycheck.

What’s your favourite Sean Connery film. Comment below.