Possibly using 60s Connery footage in a different way (Page 1 of 2)

It's an interesting idea, for sure. The CGI actor-enhancement technology can be made to work well in some cases (see "Star Wars: Rogue One" and, for an earlier example, Oliver Reed's performance in "Gladiator"), but for a Bond film? I'm not so sure. Obviously it would provide a nostalgia thrill for fans to see Sean Connery return in his prime as James Bond, but I can think of a few problems. Firstly, would the performance be authentic? After all, it wouldn't actually be Connery himself giving a complete performance if you think about it, more a series of CGI-ified clips and redubbed audio work.  Secondly, there's a risk that the general public and press might see it as simply a distracting gimmick. So I would say that it's an intriguing notion, certainly, but with a lot of practical flaws when you think about the practicalities of using the technology in a modern Bond film.

I don't mean a CGI Connery, or at least as little as possible. I'm thinking of using the Connery footage from "Woman Of Straw", "Marnie" and possibly "A Fine Madness" and repurposing it. Use outtakes and deleted scenes if any survive. Only use CGI where absolutely necessary, use doubles for rear shots, etc. Blend him in with modern co-stars. Use his voice from these films.
It would be difficult and pose technical problems, of course. I'm wondering how difficult.
Rights may be an issue- for one thing, "Marnie" is a Hitchcock film. His family may not be happy. Still, I think it's an interesting theory.

What you describe is different from deep fakes, Barbel, but many of the ethical problems still apply in my opinion. In Connery's case we also know there was a conflict between EON and Connery, and the actor kept some distance to the character. I know he did the voice for the FRWL computer game, but still.

Silly idea? Bleeding horrible more like. Puts one in mind of cryogenic freezing.

That said, it would be interesting to see Connery inserted into OHMSS. Dunno, just a thought.

Or to make him look better in NSNA but it's still horrible as a film.

Wasn't there a car ad two decades ago with Connery de-ageing using CGI as it went on? I'll look for it.

Last edited by Napoleon Plural (5th Dec 2020 00:16)

get SickBoy from TrainSpotting to do the voiceover
or that SNL comedian who did the Jeopardy sketches

I don't think you need to reuse footage from early movies, the ConneryBond character could be all CGI.
Maybe should be, as the choice of movements in the vintage footage would be too limiting to cover all needed movements to tell a complete story.
For example do these early Connery films include anything visually similar to him being tied in a chair and smacked with a carpet beater? if not, still need to create that content from scratch.

What's really needed is an Andy Serkis type motion actor who can persuasively imitate Connery's  distinct manner of movement, and map the CGI Connery to that.

and yes actually attempting anything like this, especially so close after the real Connery's death, would be in exceptionally poor taste, even if he had remained on good terms with EON.

Barbel youre a Pink Panther fan.
Wasn't there a posthumous Peter Sellers film cobbled together in a similar manner?

there's two angles of discussion,
1) is it technically possible
2) is it ethical, or even legal

I think we're all agreed any actual attempt to do so would be disrespectful to Connery's memory and wishes,
but the discussion of how it could be done technically is nonetheless rather interesting and I would like to see it explored further, so I say its a good idea for discussion!
Its not like Babs and Mike are going to see this thread and suddenly be inspired to use leftover Connery footage for Bond26 instead of hiring a new actor, its all theoretical.

...

Did you mean use only existing footage from Connery's early non-Bond films (and maybe some Bond outtakes) to make this theoretical film? no CGI Connery or doubles? would he be bluescreened into new backgrounds with new actors?

Would it be a Fleming adaptation somehow forced to fit existing footage, or an all-new story that could more easily match existing footage?

I'm reminded of films like Whats Up Tigerlily, where Woody Allen overdubbed a Japanese movie to tell a completely different story.
There was also an episode of the Cisco Kid that Martin Short and his friends overdubbed in a similar manner.

Yes, that's it although I think there would have to be some use of doubles and (as limited as possible) CGI. Re doubles- Harrison Ford hurt his back during or just before "Temple Of Doom" and Vic Armstrong doubled for him a lot more than he would normally have been expected to do. Not the same thing, since Ford was and is very much alive, but it did put restrictions on what could be shot.

I don't think a Fleming adaptation would be possible within the limitations, and a new story would have to be written around what is available.

There's something about those deep fakes though. I don't think the technology is quite there yet. They look unreal around the eyes, there's nothing going on behind them. Using unseen or unreleased footage of Connery would be preferable.

Actually I had an idea for something like this for Never Say Never Again.. over the credits they could have used clips from Connery's past Bonds. Except they couldn't, wouldn't be allowed, but why not get round it with clips from non-Bond movies exactly as Barbel suggests, like Marnie?
You could do a good fan film like this, a clip show. Do a trailer for OHMSS with just Connery okay it's probably been done.

Well, someone had a go at Sean Connery in OHMSS It works quite well at times, not so well at others. Enjoy.   

You bring up how people can easily mistake Connery in Woman of Straw for Bond. It happens a lot. So many people post stills of Connery from the film on Instagram and label it as Bond. The same happens with Marnie. Most of his Woman of Straw wardrobe was reused for Goldfinger, except the swim trunks that Sunspel recreated for the Designing 007 exhibit were not worn by Bond. 

I think there is technology that could make this work. They’d have to put Connery on different sets. Woman of Straw and Marnie do not visually resemble Bond films, even if Connery looks just like Bond.