Death of Sean Connery

[Jo498]

I am not a fan of the Name of the Rose movie. It's a decent movie but it is extremely onedimensional (or two: sex and disgust/gore) compared to the book which was probably the most impressive book I had read when I first read it at about 16.

[Karl Henning]

I am not a fan of the Name of the Rose movie. It's a decent movie but it is extremely onedimensional (or two: sex and disgust/gore) compared to the book which was probably the most impressive book I had read when I first read it at about 16.

I saw it in the cinema when it opened, but for whatever passel of reasons. I have not felt like returning to it. I should read the book.

[Jo498]

The book is really very different.* It is overambitious but less so than any other Eco I read (or actually didn't finish, except for Foucault's pendulum) and far more successful in integrating extreme erudition and dabbling in philosophy and theology with an exciting plot. I'd probably like it less where I to reread it now in my fourties but as a teenager I was basically stunned although I must have missed most of the allusions and background. They even published a companion volume (like the "key", it wasn't called clavis rosarum though) back then covering some of the background.

*It's also my pet peeve that books about books cannot do well as movies. The first movie I ever saw in the cinema at about 11 was "The neverending story" (which had been my favorite book back then) and I was hugely disappointed despite the movie per se being not too bad and very impressive for early 80s.

[Gurn Blanston]

I saw it in the cinema when it opened, but for whatever passel of reasons. I have not felt like returning to it. I should read the book.

I agree with Jo about the book, it was an amazing read, I got it when it first was published, not because of any hype (I never saw any) but because of my ongoing love affair with mystery books. But this was above and beyond that. The movie was really quite good, but honestly it is a real case of it not doing justice to an amazing literary work. FWIW, I didn't feel the same about Foucault's Pendulum ...

[vandermolen]

I saw the film of 'The Name of the Rose' and then read the book. I enjoyed them both, although, obviously the film is more sensationalised. I did not, however, think that the film was simply a sex and gore fest - William of Baskerville (Connery) is a flawed character and by no means a one-dimensional one and I felt that the film had a strong moral compass and interesting characterisations and excellent acting (apart from 'Cuthbert of Winchester' who acted like he was in a school play).

[relm1]

What would you all say is Connery's finest non-Bond film?

[Karl Henning]

What would you all say is Connery's finest non-Bond film?

For myself: John Huston's The Man Who Would Be King.

[Gurn Blanston]

For myself: John Huston's The Man Who Would Be King.

I second that. Kipling's story was engrossing, but the film made it more than that, it was outstanding.

[Jo498]

Kipling's story seems just too laconic, after the movie. It's a brilliant, terse novella but it lacks the panoramic breadth and color of the movie and also the characterization of the Connery character.
I must have seen The untouchables because I recall Kevin Costner in that movie but to my shame I don't remember Connery.

[vandermolen]

What would you all say is Connery's finest non-Bond film?

I haven't seen them all but for me it's The Name of the Rose.

[relm1]

I second that. Kipling's story was engrossing, but the film made it more than that, it was outstanding.

I'll try to see it in the next few days.  I love engrossing, outstanding films.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

From what I recall, I felt so-so about the movie, but did really enjoy the book (Sorry Jeffrey!).

I hadn't read the Kipling story before, but really was wowed by the movie.     The Untouchables was up there for me, but I'd give The Man the star.

PD

[vandermolen]

From what I recall, I felt so-so about the movie, but did really enjoy the book (Sorry Jeffrey!).

I hadn't read the Kipling story before, but really was wowed by the movie.     The Untouchables was up there for me, but I'd give The Man the star.

PD

No need to apologise PD. The movie is quite grotesque in a way but I've always liked it. There is some nice humour as when the monastery tips out its food waste down an embankment and the starving villagers go after it, leading William of Baskerville (Connery) to comment 'another generous gift from the church to the poor'. Also I liked the way that it worked, for me at least, as a kind of detective mystery as well a character study of William and Adso.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

No need to apologise PD. The movie is quite grotesque in a way but I've always liked it. There is some nice humour as when the monastery tips out its food waste down an embankment and the starving villagers go after it, leading William of Baskerville (Connery) to comment 'another generous gift from the church to the poor'. Also I liked the way that it worked, for me at least, as a kind of detective mystery as well a character study of William and Adso.

I'll look to see if I can find it on my service provider's "On Demand" or maybe borrow a DVD of it. 

PD

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I just read this touching and also sad story.  Apparently, he was suffering from dementia in the end. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54792462

PD

[Karl Henning]

Yes PD - you will 

I watched a nice TV tribute to Sean Connery last night.

Here's the documentary:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RoWxPOJAqXk

Of course, he campaigned for the Scottish National Party even though he lived as a tax exile in Marbella. I remember being very amused when the comedian Rory Bremner, at the time of a previous General Election, announced in a spoof News Flash: 'Breaking News - Sean Connery has held on to Marbella South for the Scottish National Party!'

Great, thanks!

[Gurn Blanston]

I just read this touching and also sad story.  Apparently, he was suffering from dementia in the end. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54792462

PD

Yes, they kept a very low profile on it. I heard it from a group of Scots I hang with on Facebook, and they believed it was probably unknown outside Scotland. In my mind, dementia is in a dead heat with quadriplegia, its virtual opposite, for the worst fate possible for an otherwise healthy individual. And even worse for those around who have to be devastated along with.

[Irons]

Yes, they kept a very low profile on it. I heard it from a group of Scots I hang with on Facebook, and they believed it was probably unknown outside Scotland. In my mind, dementia is in a dead heat with quadriplegia, its virtual opposite, for the worst fate possible for an otherwise healthy individual. And even worse for those around who have to be devastated along with.

Announced this week that Sir Bobby Charlton diagnosed with dementia. 

[Handelian]

Of course, he campaigned for the Scottish National Party even though he lived as a tax exile in Marbella. I remember being very amused when the comedian Rory Bremner, at the time of a previous General Election, announced in a spoof News Flash: 'Breaking News - Sean Connery has held on to Marbella South for the Scottish National Party!'

I have always thought that his failure to live under the utopian government of the SNP somewhat weakened his case. Fine actor though. Great in the Untouchables and in Indiana Jones.

[Karl Henning]

Sean Connery in memoriam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c6kGJicntc