Sean Connery in Live and Let Die - questions

Couple of questions:

1) Is it true Sean was approached to play Bond yet again for Live and Let Die but turned it down?

2) Was the script already written before casting?

3) How do you guys think he would've fared in that film?

I just think it'd have been really interesting to have seen Sean Connery as Bond in basically a Blaxploitation film and in gritty 70s NYC.

Comments

  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    1) Yes.

    2) Mainly. Changes and additions were done right up to filming. Tom Mankiewicz did not know who would be 007 till the bulk of the writing was done.

    3) About the same as DAF.
  • AugustWalkerAugustWalker Posts: 880MI6 Agent
    Glad that they went with Moore, Connery was way past his prime in DAF already...
    The name is Walker by the way.

    IG: @thebondarchives
    Check it out, you won’t be disappointed :)
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    I could easily picture Connery in LALD, and the same with TMWTGG. Those films aren't much different from DAF, with Guy Hamilton directing and Tom Mankiewicz writing. Moore's Bond isn't written differently than Connery's until TSWLM. It wasn't until TSWLM that they realised that Bond could be a different character.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    You know, I've always meant to write a kind of definitive article on why Connery rejected the Bond role for LALD, drawing all of the available sources together in one place.

    I don't think there's ever really been an article like that written before. Maybe one day I'll get around to it as it's a fascinating subject.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I think even Tom Mankiewicz called Sir Sean , telling him
    About the crocodiles and speedboats, but he wasn't interested.
    I think he talks about it on the DVD extras. Although I agree that
    Connery was done with Bond, and it was better to get a new face
    For 007.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • RevelatorRevelator Posts: 555MI6 Agent
    Even a past-his-prime Connery would be worth watching. And I don't think Connery was past his prime in the first place. He gives a relaxed performance in DAF because that's what the film demands from him.
  • Doctor WhoDoctor Who Posts: 62MI6 Agent
    You know, I've always meant to write a kind of definitive article on why Connery rejected the Bond role for LALD, drawing all of the available sources together in one place.

    I don't think there's ever really been an article like that written before. Maybe one day I'll get around to it as it's a fascinating subject.

    Can you summarize why briefly? Am curious.
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    Doctor Who wrote:
    basically a Blaxploitation film

    Just curious, what other Blaxploitation films have you seen?
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,644MI6 Agent
    Doctor Who wrote:
    You know, I've always meant to write a kind of definitive article on why Connery rejected the Bond role for LALD, drawing all of the available sources together in one place.

    I don't think there's ever really been an article like that written before. Maybe one day I'll get around to it as it's a fascinating subject.

    Can you summarize why briefly? Am curious.

    Why Connery rejected the Bond role for LALD?
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Jimmy BondJimmy Bond Posts: 324MI6 Agent
    After seeing NSNA, it's fairly clear that Connery could've carried on playing the part for years and years until the mid 80's.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Connery could have played Bond until His mid 80s :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Jimmy BondJimmy Bond Posts: 324MI6 Agent
    For sure.

    In all seriousness, Skyfall probably would've been better with Connery in it, in his early 70s or something. The old pro, worn out and pulled back for the last ever mission.
  • Dirty PunkerDirty Punker ...Your Eyes Only, darling."Posts: 2,587MI6 Agent
    I sure do hope most people in this thread are taking the piss
    a reasonable rate of return
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Connery could always shoot from the hip, even if that hip
    was made of aluminium ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 6,030MI6 Agent
    A few years ago I read character actor Victor Spinetti’s autobiography and he relates an episode where he was with Sean Connery at his house and Sean received a phone call from either one of the producers or maybe it was head of United Artists (sorry, memory is sketchy on this point) asking if he would replace Roger Moore as after a weeks filming it was felt that it wasn’t going right and he point blank refused.

    Having read Roger’s LALD diary book I think Roger had injured himself during the first week when they were filming the boat chase so maybe this was the reason?

    I cannot believe that Sean would have ever done this to Roger, anyway.
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • Jimmy BondJimmy Bond Posts: 324MI6 Agent
    Connery's a cool cat, and would not stab another actor in the back. Its a fact of life - that, and his notorious longevity per deals, and his penchant to hold on a grudge.
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