Shakespeare Shaken by Sean

When I heard that Sean Connery died in his sleep, there was no instinct of sadness in me. On the other hand, I was glad that such a person was born to entertain millions of people on this planet. This occasion compels me to reveal the modest fanfare of Sean since the year 1966; the toned-down excitement of which persists in me even now after more than five decades. My family packed me off to a Boarding School at Guntur at the age of Six itself, from where I always rushed home for holidays like a prisoner released on parole. That summer of 1966 was unforgettable, for my cousin Tilak introduced me to the world of ‘James Bond’. My cousin who was my best pal at that time had already seen the movie ‘Goldfinger’, and his dramatic narration was just mind boggling. My eyes sparkled with excitement and the ears stretched farther to capture his detailed narration of Bond’s car fitted with gadgets and the ejector seat; the lethal hat of the Korean henchman; and the whole saga of thrills. My Cousin articulately mimed all the exciting action sequences with hair-raising sound effects. I just loved it. Even before I had seen ‘Goldfinger’, I became a die-hard fan of James Bond, the superspy 007 played by whoever was this ‘Scene’ Connery (that’s how we pronounced).

We set off to Leela Mahal; one of the two famous destinations of all English movie buffs in and around Vijayawada. In order to save a few paise for the irresistible fried ‘mirchi-bajji’ during interval, we walked the onward journey and it was unforgettable as my cousin kept on narrating more exploits of James Bond throughout the way; which became larger, innovative, and different every time he repeated the same scene with conspicuous variations. At the theatre we gaped mesmerized at the large posters and the photo cards. Finally, the curtains raised, and I was blown away with my first Bond film right from the opening signature scene. Connery with his magnetic persona portrayed the role of Bond in regal style. It was a colossal dream ride watching Goldfinger, with all the gadgetry, the throughout excitement without a dull moment, and the scintillating background theme.

My second Bond movie was ‘Thunderball’ in 1968. This time it was Navrang, the best theatre at Vijayawada for its ambience, and also the first Air-Conditioned. Sean Connery (by then I correctly pronounced his name) as Bond was mostly dressed in casual summer wear, looking handsome than before. His magnetic persona was irresistible. The dry wit was a specialty. The walk and the lanky figure with a slight mischievous smile were like exquisite ornaments that made the audience strongly believe that Sean and Bond were one and the same. It was that belief which made a permanent impression.

Willian Shakespeare brought his famous play ‘Macbeth’ to stage in 1606, and the tenet which became popular is from the scene where Macbeth on hearing the death of his beloved Lady, states in despair, “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” Shakespeare had no idea that a Scottish mate by name Thomas Sean Connery would be born 323 years later and would prove him wrong with his performance as James Bond. The popular tenet penned by the Bard of Avon for once became insignificant in the case of a Scottish underdog. Each and every word in the tenet was dismantled by Sean. The outcry of the proud Scot for the freedom of his Fatherland was successfully vindicated decimating the skeptical doctrine of the English iconic Bard. Sean Connery played James Bond for the celluloid version of Ian Fleming’s novel, Dr.No in 1962, and thereafter in six editions effortlessly without any struts and frets.

The Bard’s canon misfired miserably in the case of Sean; for his exceptional performance as James Bond is imprinted in everyone’s memory even after he departed from the world stage decades ago.