During the American Film Institute’s entertaining Tribute to Sean Connery, not one speaker mentioned The Avengers -- and I think I know why. In a battle between this legendary movie icon and anyone else on screen, whose side will moviegoers take? His, of course. He carries too much hero baggage from stellar performances as James Bond, Indiana Jones’ father, King Arthur, and Robin Hood to be accepted in the role of a dastardly villain. And that’s one of the reasons The Avengers failed so miserably.

In this 1998 release, Connery played Sir August de Wynter, an evil British ex-government official out to dominate the world by controlling its weather. (One disbelieving viewer at the screening I attended whispered, “If this is what he wants to do, I’m all for it.”)  Pitted against Connery were Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman as John Steed and Emma Peel, those elegant British special agents first seen in the popular 1960’s television series. Despite their fantastic wardrobes and physical beauty, Fiennes and Thurman couldn’t match Connery for charisma or star power. Instead of appearing as sophisticated and cool as their television forerunners (Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg), they seemed more like contestants in a “cutest couple” contest. Their supposedly witty conversations left me colder than the snowstorms manufactured by Connery’s character in the film. 

No doubt about it, Connery manages to steal most of the movies he’s cast in. And, according to the Internet Movie Database, there have been over 70 of them (including TV). James Earl Jones, one of the speakers at the AFI Tribute (televised June 21, 2006, on USA Network) said, “It’s his voice.” When you consider all the people who try to imitate Connery’s husky Scottish accent, Jones might be right. But I think Connery has much more going for him. His impressive physical stature and his ability to do both drama and comedy equally well have contributed to his great success as an actor.

In one of the best Tribute speeches, Pierce Brosnan recalled he was only 11 years old when he was blown away by Sean Connery in a James Bond movie. “I still feel like that same wide-eyed lad where you’re concerned,” Brosnan told the honoree. Also memorable was Craig Ferguson, who delivered milk as a boy in Scotland -- just like Connery did -- saluting the actor as a hero to Scottish youngsters.

Sean Connery as a villain on film or in real life?  No way!

Here are four Connery films reviewed on ReelTalk (click on the title to go to the review):

Entrapment

Finding Forrester

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

Highlander 2

(For more information about Sean Connery’s American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, go to www.afi.com.)