George Lucas On Sean Connery’s Passing
Connery worked with Lucas on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade…
Indiana Jones fans are mourning Sean Connery, again.
Back in 2008, we learned of the passing of Dr. Henry Jones Sr. — Indiana Jones’ dad — in a scene from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
In the film, Indy (Harrison Ford) looks at framed photos of his good friend Marcus Brody (the late Denhom Elliott) and his father, Henry Senior (Connery), Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. says, “Brutal couple of years, huh Charlie? First Dad, then Marcus.
Goodbye Sir Sean
Charlie, Charles Stanforth, the Dean of Students at the fictional Marshall College, replies, “We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away.”
Dean Stanforth (played by Jim Broadbent) could have been talking about 2020. So many beloved people, and not a few favorite celebrities, have succomb this year.
Connery, one of the most recognized names to pass on this year, was — of course — best known as James Bond, 007. However, the Scotland-born Connery won an Oscar for playing an Irish police officer in The Untouchables.
But in Disney circles, Connery is rememberd for his role in Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) and in the 1980’s Lucasfilm hit, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Lucas on Connery
Of Connery’s passing, Indiana Jones creator George Lucas wrote to Variety:
Sir Sean Connery, through his talent and drive, left an indelible mark in cinematic history. His audiences spanned generations, each with favorite roles he played. He will always hold a special place in my heart as Indy’s dad. With an air of intelligent authority and sly sense of comedic mischief, only someone like Sean Connery could render Indiana Jones immediately into boyish regret or relief through a stern fatherly chiding or rejoiceful hug. I’m thankful for having had the good fortune to have known and worked with him. My thoughts are with his family.”
At the time of the film’s release, Sir Sean’s portayal of the elder Dr. Jones was universally lauded.
Henry Jr. on Henry Sr.
Even now, Harrison Ford remembers the filming, and his friend, fondly.
“It was amazing for me in how far he got into the script and went after exploiting opportunities for character,” Ford told Variety. “His suggestions to George [Lucas] at the writing stage really gave the character and the picture a lot more complexity and value than it had in the original screenplay.”