Sean Connery - the Pictures Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kevin Costner

All the actors listed have played Robin Hood on film. Russell Crowe was in 'Robin Hood' (2010) and Patrick Bergin was in 'Robin Hood' (1991). Cary Elwes played the role in 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' (1993). Costner was the actor who took the part in this film, with the unforgettable Alan Rickman as the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham. Connery's role was uncredited as it was a surprise cameo towards the end of the film, when Richard the Lionheart appeared to give his blessing to Robin and Marian at their wedding. Costner's career really took off in the mid 1980s when he was cast in the role of Eliot Ness in 'The Untouchables'.

His other major films include 'Field of Dreams' (1989) and 'Dances with Wolves' (1990). In 2012 Costner appeared in the television series 'Hatfields and McCoys'.

Answer: Cuba

Connery played Major Robert Dapes, who is recruited to train the Cuban army. The film is set just prior to the Castro revolution, which Connery's character realises will be successful, even though he is working for the existing government. The film was directed by Richard Lester, who also brought us 'Superman II' (1980) and 'Superman III' (1983). Lester was also the director of 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964) featuring a band called The Beatles - you may have heard of them. Of the other options, 'Madagascar' was the title of the animated film which came out in 2005.

The name of Jamaica featured in the title of Alfred Hitchcock's 1939 version of 'Jamaica Inn', which was set in Cornwall. Haiti was the setting for 'The Comedians', starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, which came out in 1967.

Answer: Ramirez

Sean played the role of Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez, an immortal warrior. He undertakes the training of Connor MacLeod, played by Christopher Lambert, who is another immortal, but unaware of his powers. The film cuts between sixteenth century Scotland and New York City in 1985, and has become something of a cult. Both actors played the roles again in 'Highlander II: The Quickening' in 1991.

As already mentioned, MacLeod was not a Connery character. Sean played the role of Henry Jones in 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' in 1989 and Allan Quatermain in 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' (2003).

Answer: The Longest Day

To list all the actors who had roles in 'The Longest Day' would take a long time, so I'll just mention Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Peter Lawford and Richard Todd. The German actors included Paul Hartmann as von Rundstedt and Curt (or Curd) Jurgens as Blumentritt. 'The Longest Day' covered the D-Day landings in Normandy in June 1944 and had the benefit of advice from actual participants in the events. Cornelius Ryan was credited as one of the writers of the screenplay.

The other films listed all feature World War II, but not Sean Connery, although he did appear in the 1977 adaptation of another Cornelius Ryan book about the Arnhem landings - 'A Bridge Too Far'.

Answer: Entrapment

Connery played the role of an art thief, with Catherine Zeta Jones being the insurance investigator sent to trap him. She convinces him that she is actually a thief, and helps him steal a valuable Chinese mask. They then go to Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia, to steal billions of dollars from a bank in the Petronas Towers.

The plot involves several bluffs and counter bluffs, and was filmed in England, Scotland and Malaysia. 'Along Came a Spider' was a Morgan Freeman film from 2001, and 'The Web' starred Vincent Price in 1947. Charlize Theron starred in 'Trapped' (2002).

Answer: Alcatraz

All these islands are notorious for their prisons. Rikers Island is in New York, Devil's Island in French Guiana and Robben Island is in South Africa. Alcatraz had been used previously in 'Escape from Alcatraz', starring Clint Eastwood, in 1979 and 'Birdman of Alcatraz' with Burt Lancaster in 1962. 'The Rock' is not a prison movie, although the cells are made use of in the plot.

A group of marines has seized control of Alcatraz and is threatening San Francisco with chemical weapons. They have taken hostages, which is where the cells come in handy. Connery's character has been in US custody for thirty years and is the only man known to have escaped from Alcatraz.

He is offered a pardon in return for his help in reaching the island via its underground passages, although the FBI has no intention of keeping their side of the bargain.

The film also starred Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris.

Answer: James Bond

Probably the most famous spy in the world, James Bond was created by author Ian Fleming in 1953, and is also known by his code name of 007. Connery first played him in 1962, in 'Dr. No', with his most recent outing being in 'Never Say Never Again' in 1983.

The picture hint was for 'Diamonds are Forever' in which Bond meets his adversary of several films, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, this time played by Charles Gray. The film marked Connery's return to the role after George Lazenby's sole playing of Bond in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. Since Connery retired from the role for the second time, Bond has been portrayed by Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

Answer: William of Baskerville

'The Name of the Rose' is a murder mystery set in mediaeval times, with Connery playing William of Baskerville who attempts to find the murderer. William is a Franciscan monk, who arrives at an abbey to attend a conference. He is accompanied by Adso of Melk, played by Christian Slater, who is the narrator of the film, looking back at the events in his old age. William is renowned for his ability to analyse matters - almost a mediaeval Sherlock Holmes.

The plot includes poison, a lost library, the inquisition and some burnings at the stake. F. Murray Abraham also appeared in the film portraying Bernardo Gui, the real life inquisitor. Umberto Eco is the author of the book on which the film is based. Daniel Dravot was Connery's character in 'The Man Who Would be King' (1975) and he provided the voice of Draco in 'Dragonheart' (1996).

Answer: Kenneth More

Depending upon which website you read, Connery was a deckhand or steerage passenger in the film. It seems to have been a 'blink and you'll miss it' appearance, as I've watched the film and can't recall seeing him. The film has been praised as being the most realistic telling of the Titanic story, and Kenneth More portrayed Charles Lightoller, the Second Officer, and hero of the event.

It had the benefit of having Joseph Boxall, who survived the disaster and was the Fourth Officer on RMS Titanic, as an adviser.

The film was released as an upgraded high definition DVD in 2012 to'celebrate' the one hundredth anniversary of the sinking.

Answer: The Hunt for Red October

The film was a 1990 version of the novel of the same name, written by Tom Clancy. Connery plays the role of a Russian submarine captain who is trying to defect to the west with his innovative submarine. Alec Baldwin portrays Jack Ryan, the CIA analyst who has appeared in several films and been played by different actors, including Harrison Ford. 'From Russia with Love' (1963) was, of course, a Bond film and Connery played a British man visiting Moscow in 'The Russia House', also in 1990. 'Shalako', released in 1968, was actually a western. Connery played the title role, and the film also starred Brigitte Bardot and Honor Blackman.