Recommendations of the Editorial team
On the occasion of the restored re-release of the 1981 science fiction film “Outland”, director and cameraman Peter Hyams describes his collaboration with Sir Sean Connery in an interview with the Scottish daily newspaper “Daily Record”.
For the American filmmaker, this encounter was a “baptism of fire.” His anecdotes provide insights into the making of a film that is now cult-revered – and into the uncompromising professional understanding of a man who is one of the defining faces of international cinema.
Connery died in 2020 at the age of 90. He was considered a charismatic and always demanding actor who did not tolerate unprofessionalism on set.
Connery’s uncompromising attitude on set
“When he raised an eyebrow, it could go through the walls of the set,” says Hyams, recalling Connery’s ability to exude maximum authority with minimal gestures. He was never concerned with vanity or power – his energy was solely focused on the quality of the film.
During the filming of “Outland,” a sci-fi Western set on Jupiter’s moon Io, Connery was 49 years old and Hyams was just 37. The film, stylistically influenced by “High Noon” and “Alien,” tells the story of a lone marshal who uncovers a conspiracy at a remote mining outpost. The dark aesthetic and thematic depth of the work are still appreciated today – even if the film was not a success at the box office at the time of its release.
When Connery learned that Hyams was taking on the camera work as well as directing – a rare but not uncommon approach in auteur cinema – he initially reacted skeptically. Only when a technically demanding scene, a subtle play of light in Connery’s eye, was achieved straight away did the mistrust subside. The actor immediately demanded that the so-called “dailies” be viewed, but then stopped his critical questioning.
From then on he no longer called Hyams “boy”, but rather tongue-in-cheek “cock” – a Scottish form of recognition.
Trust between director and star
Despite his severity, Connery was not a complicated person, but a highly focused professional.
Hyams puts him in a group with actors like Gene Hackman and Michael Douglas – personalities who made an impact not through eccentricity, but through presence and technical precision. An often overlooked aspect, says Hyams, is Connery’s ability to truly listen in the game: “When someone speaks, their eyes are awake. He’s not just waiting for his next sentence, he’s reacting.”
Over the decades, “Outland” has become an insider tip in the sci-fi scene – not least because of Connery’s nuanced performance.
A legacy of precision and poise
The collaboration with Hyams later continued in the military thriller “The Presidio” (1988). In retrospect, the fact that Connery got involved with Hyams again is a clear sign of mutual respect between two artists with high standards.
In many ways, Connery’s attitude is reminiscent of that of musicians who don’t want to be pleasing at all costs, but rather value quality over charts and surface gloss. A character trait that requires technical precision – and is recognized in all art forms, at least in most cases.