TCM to televise Connery tribute Nov. 25

TCM, the U.S. movie channel, said on social media it will show an evening of Sean Connery films on Nov. 25.

The channel will start off at 8 p.m. eastern time with Thunderball, followed by You Only Live Twice at 10:15 p.m.

In a way, that’s appropriate. Connery’s fourth and fifth films for Eon Productions would be shown a number of times as a double feature before the Bond films were broadcast on television.

After that, TCM will televise Marnie, the 1964 Alfred Hitchcock film with Connery at 12:45 a.m., Nov. 26. The Hill, Connery’s first pairing with director Sidney Lumet, will be shown at 3:15 a.m. and The Man Who Would Be King, directed by John Huston, will be telecast at 5:30 a.m.

Connery died last month at the age of 90. TCM already has put out a short tribute video.

1965: Sean Connery tries to stump the What’s My Line? panel

Sean Connery in 1965 faced off against a panel of Dorothy Kilgallen, Ralph Meeker, Arlene Francis and Martin Gabel on the Mark Goodson-Bill Todman game show What’s My Line? The 007 star appeared just before the drama The Hill was to open in New York and he was in the city filming A Fine Madness.

As it turned out, he didn’t pull it off. Gabel, who was also Miss Francis’s husband, had worked with Connery in the Alfred Hitcock film Marnie. So it was Gabel who successfully guessed the mystery guest’s identity.

On this particular evening, there was little talk about the Bond movies. Both Francis and host John Daly comment about how films such as The Hill and A Fine Madness must be nice breaks from the world of 007. In any case, it’s fun to watch, particularly with Sir Sean talking in a high-pitched voice to try to fool the panel. See for yourselves:

TCM 007 update

On the Saturday afternoon telecast of Diamonds Are Forever, TCM weekend host Ben Mankiewicz didn’t mention his family’s connection to the movie. According to imdb.com, Ben is cousin once removed of Diamonds co-screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz.

Ben Mankiewicz in his introduction said United Artists paid Sean Connery $2 million to come back to the role. Robert Osborne, in the Friday night telecast, quoted $1.25 million, a sum also referenced in the documentary Inside Diamonds Are Forever. Mankiewicz described On Her Majesty’s Secret Service as the series’ first “major hiccup.”

Mankiewicz’s summary after the movie concentrated on how Diamonds was the last film appearance of Bruce Cabot, whose best-known credit was appearing in the original King Kong.

After the movie, TCM telecast a short bit where director Sidney Lumet, who worked with Connery on five films, discussed Connery. Lumet said the Bond films “appeared to be nothing but charm.” The director added, “‘Nothing but charm’ ain’t easy” and that most of that was because of Connery’s acting. Most of this short feature had Lumet talking about Connery’s work in The Hill, their first movie together.

TCM starts promos for 007/Connery movies

TCM has started running a promo for “star of the month” Sean Connery in May. As you might expect, it relies heavily on Connery appearances in his six James Bond movies filmed for Eon Productions.

Throughout the promo, TCM uses the dots from the main titles of Dr. No superimposed over clips from that movies, the five other Connery/Eon/007 movies as well as clips from non-Bond Connery films such as The Hill and The Wind And The Lion. The promo also uses a piece of music that evokes The James Bond Theme but is different enough that TCM won’t have to pay any royalties to Monty Norman.

In all, TCM will have 15 Connery movies, starting Friday, May 1, with Dr. No and From Russia With Love.