by Graeme Stirling
Apologies are due to democracy here, but when it comes to best onscreen dads there can really only be one winner. That title surely goes to Dr. Henry Jones, archaeology professor, Nazi-botherer, Sean Connery-lookalike and illustrious father of the mighty Indiana Jones (except that’s not his real name, is it?).
Apologies are due to democracy here, but when it comes to best onscreen dads there can really only be one winner. That title surely goes to Dr. Henry Jones, archaeology professor, Nazi-botherer, Sean Connery-lookalike and illustrious father of the mighty Indiana Jones (except that’s not his real name, is it?).
Henry made his one and only appearance in The Last Crusade, the third instalment in the Indy series and one that many fans feel – or at least this one feels – is unfairly overshadowed by the brilliant, but still vastly inferior Raiders of the Lost Ark. Contrary to his macho son, he is a bumbling buffoon of a man – well educated, refined and knowledgeable, yet cartoonishly clumsy and seemingly oblivious to the ways of others. Dressed in a three-piece tweed suit and hat and always sporting his trusty umbrella, he seems to be the antithesis of the hero, and yet his antics are just effective in bringing down the Wehrmacht’s plans.
As odd as it may seem to say in the context of such a purposefully silly and light-hearted adventure film, the role of Henry Jones may well be the finest performance of Sir Sean Connery’s acting career. Here he steps out of his usually reserved role – be it suave in his younger days or quietly intimidating in his latter – and displays a range and animation that we have come to categorically not expect when we see his name on the posters. The accent and thick sibilant Ss are still there, but the usual face and hairpiece are gone and replaced with the sharp visage and glossy dome of a man we barely recognise. Connery launched himself into the role with so much enthusiasm that, despite his being only twelve years older than Harrison Ford, we would never question that they are in fact father and son. The dynamic between them is flawless, the frustrated dialogue seemingly almost improvised.
As odd as it may seem to say in the context of such a purposefully silly and light-hearted adventure film, the role of Henry Jones may well be the finest performance of Sir Sean Connery’s acting career. Here he steps out of his usually reserved role – be it suave in his younger days or quietly intimidating in his latter – and displays a range and animation that we have come to categorically not expect when we see his name on the posters. The accent and thick sibilant Ss are still there, but the usual face and hairpiece are gone and replaced with the sharp visage and glossy dome of a man we barely recognise. Connery launched himself into the role with so much enthusiasm that, despite his being only twelve years older than Harrison Ford, we would never question that they are in fact father and son. The dynamic between them is flawless, the frustrated dialogue seemingly almost improvised.
Connery seems too to have taken a leaf from Ford’s usual, highly expressive face acting (if there were a title for best angry face in film, Ford would win hands down every year) and puts it to use in one of the best father-and-son scenes ever filmed. During a tense motorcycle chase, Indy destroys a German pursuer and turns to his dad for paternal approval, only to have his usual triumphant grin defeated by a hawkish, unimpressed stare and replaced by a quivering lip. Other wonderful moments include being bound to a chair in a burning room and making a two-man escape attempt, Connery’s accidental shooting down of a stolen bi-plane with its own machine gun, the vase over the head during Indy’s rescue attempt at an Austrian castle – “Dad, they come in through the doors” – and the impromptu outburst at gunpoint where Connery laments of his Holy Grail diary, “I should have mailed it to the Marx Brothers!”
Then, of course, there are his solo moments – particularly during the stock Nazi officer’s attempted interrogation of him in a moving tank and his bringing down of a fighter plane using only an umbrella and a flock of birds – that have led to The Last Crusade becoming the most quotable Sean Connery flick ever filmed. That’s no mean feat.
Then, of course, there are his solo moments – particularly during the stock Nazi officer’s attempted interrogation of him in a moving tank and his bringing down of a fighter plane using only an umbrella and a flock of birds – that have led to The Last Crusade becoming the most quotable Sean Connery flick ever filmed. That’s no mean feat.
All in all, it’s a thoroughly good thing that Connery neglected to reappear in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, where he would have been a weary pensioner and grandfather to Shia LaBeouf, but that doesn’t mean that he’s lost his title. Indeed, by leaving well enough alone, he’s successfully preserved it. As adventure films go, it doesn’t get much better than The Last Crusade, and for all its merits it would be close to nothing without the genius of Dr. Henry Jones, Sr. This is surely one of the highest points in Connery lore, and he will go down in history as the greatest cinematic dad of all time.
Just as well he passed his name on to his son. And named the dog Indiana.
Just as well he passed his name on to his son. And named the dog Indiana.
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