RIP SEAN CONNERY (1930- 2020)

It is with sadness that we report that Sean Connery has died at the age of 90. He was one of the last of Alfred Hitchcock’s leading men (William Devane and Bruce Dern are luckily still with us).

Playing Mark Rutland, he brings confidence, virility and compassion to the role, an amateur zoologist who tries to tame Marnie and cure her of childhood nightmares.

Extract from “Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie” by Tony Lee Moral

“The director (Hitchcock) was advised that Connery would not consider starring in a film without seeing the script first, and his asking salary was $200,000. Connery was already receiving $60,000 per picture plus $200 a week expenses, in addition to 5 per cent of the gross on Saltzman’s pictures. Later Connery conceded, “For the first time in my life I can ask to read a script, and if you had been in some of the tripe I have, you’d know why.”

The next day, Hitchcock watched “Dr. No” in his private screening room with his agent Herman Citron, and a month later he viewed “From Russia With Love”. No doubt both men saw in Connery an actor of considerable range and star charisma. Hitchcock probably also detected a confident sexuality and hint of sadomasochism that he perceived in the role of Mark Rutland. “I wanted him for my picture because the part requires a virile, aggressive man with a lot of authority”, said Hitchcock.

Sean was universally liked by the cast and crew of Marnie. During the wrap party on February 28th 1964, the crew presented Sean with a watch for his professionalism. He was so touched by the tribute that he took his own watch off and put on the new one. Hitchcock admired his professionalism and potential – Sean went onto play 007 in Goldfinger which is often seen as the best in the James Bond series. RIP Sean you will be missed.

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