SEAN CONNERY

Many interviews (though none with Connery) give a lift to this otherwise placid celebio of the popular actor, which follows on the heels of Andrew Yule's 1992 Connery bio of the same title—a much stronger work. There's really no need to read this new Parker (Prince Philip and Five for Hollywood—both 1991, etc.) if you've already read the Yule, though readers coming fresh to the life of Connery should find it steadily interesting, with Connery's quotes and maverick- like behavior giving bounce to some pages—as do the interviews. The actor's rise from rags to riches came about by indirection, with Connery—raised in Edinburgh—having many lowly jobs as a youth, then being dropped by the Royal Navy for a stomach ulcer after a year's service. His interest in bodybuilding led to a small part in a British roadshow of South Pacific, which led to larger parts on stage and TV, his first big role being the punch-drunk lead in Requiem for a Heavyweight. Connery, Parker tells us, liked Marlon Brando's underplaying and studied Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant's ways of bringing their roles to themselves rather than changing themselves for the roles. Parker respects his subject's private life far more than Yule does, and doesn't dig as deeply into the acting. Most interesting here is the information about Connery's avid pursuit of being paid well and to the penny for what he does, which brought about his suit against producer Albert R. Broccoli to collect money due for the actor's James Bond performances. Strong pages here and there, but many in Sunday supplement style. (Photographs)