Travis Simpkins: Sean Connery

Showing posts with label Sean Connery. Show all posts

Sunday, January 22, 2017

The Man Who Would Be King (1975): Freemasonry, Sean Connery and Michael Caine

Directed by John Huston, based on the 1888 novella by Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Would Be King (1975) is an escapist adventure that is massively entertaining. The story follows two rogue British Soldiers (and Freemasons) in India, who venture off and set themselves up as Gods in remote Kafiristan… a land that has not seen white men in over 2,000 years, since the time of Alexander the Great. Masonic connections, references and imagery are apparent throughout, with the Square & Compasses and the All Seeing Eye proving to be the salvation of the main characters at one point. The scenes in which Daniel Dravot is shown the ancient treasure hoard of Alexander and his coronation complete with golden crown and Masonic regalia are particularly interesting. Battle scenes and well written dialogue carry the story along nicely. The cast does a wonderful job, with Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Christopher Plummer taking on the main roles.

The Man Who Would Be King: Christopher Plummer

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery, Christopher Plummer and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery, Christopher Plummer and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Freemasonry. Square and Compasses. All Seeing Eye

The Man Who Would Be King: Freemasonry, Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Freemasonry. All Seeing Eye

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Freemasonry, Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Freemasonry. Square and Compasses. All Seeing Eye

The Man Who Would Be King: Alexander the Great

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Roxanne

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Michael Caine

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery

The Man Who Would Be King: Freemasonry. Square and Compasses. All Seeing Eye

The Man Who Would Be King: Sean Connery and Freemasonry

Saturday, December 31, 2016

From Russia with Love (1963): Sean Connery as James Bond 007 (Robert Shaw, Daniela Bianchi)

Following the huge success of the first "James Bond" film, Dr. No (1962), United Artists approved the production of a second film and doubled the budget. President John F. Kennedy had recently listed Ian Fleming's 1957 Bond novel, "From Russia with Love", amongst his favorite books, so the film makers decided to go with that adaptation because of the existing public interest. Ironically, From Russia with Love (1963) would be the last film President Kennedy ever saw, with it being privately screened at the White House on November 20, 1963. From Russia with Love is a masterpiece, with great performances by Sean Connery, Robert Shaw, Daniela Bianchi and Lotte Lenya. The film is often considered to be the best of the Bond films, and is cited as their favorite film by Sean Connery as well as the current James Bond, Daniel Craig.

SPECTRE's Number One is determined to exact revenge on Agent 007 James Bond for the killing of Dr. No...

: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

He charges Number Three, Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) with the mission, which involves recruiting assassin Red Grant (Robert Shaw)...

Robert Shaw: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

and luring James Bond (Sean Connery) to Istanbul...

Sean Connery: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

where he meets both unsavory characters and lovely Gypsies...

Sean Connery: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

as well as an unwitting pawn, defector Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), whose sex-appeal is just what Bond needs...

Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

Daniela Bianchi: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

as the conspiracy deepens...

Sean Connery: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

and the tension grows to it's dramatic climax on the Orient Express...

Robert Shaw: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

Sean Connery and Robert Shaw: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

Can James Bond save the day once again...

Daniela Bianchi and Sean Connery: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

Daniela Bianchi: From Russia with Love. James Bond, 007

"From Russia with Love"- movie trailer

Saturday, February 20, 2016

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003): Literary Superheroes and Freemasons

Literary characters from a bunch of unrelated 19th Century works are brought together to form an "Avengers-like" team in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003). The novels and stories referenced are: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Invisible Man, Jules Verne stories, Dracula, Sherlock Holmes and The Picture of Dorian Gray. The fantastical story finds a super-villain (who also happens to be a Freemason) plotting to start a World War by pushing one country against another so that he can gain extreme wealth from the weapons he is manufacturing. A team of "extraordinary gentlemen and a lady" are assembled to stop him… or so it seems. The special effects are hit or miss, but the film is enjoyable overall. Sean Connery is the only "Star" in the film, but the cast of relative unknowns handles the job well.