Landing the role of James Bond proved to be a double-edged sword for Sean Connery. Although it launched his career and made him a household name, the actor was the first to experience what would become somewhat of a 007 curse: he felt he could not escape the shadow of England's greatest spy. Regardless of how the public viewed him, Connery was at various times seemingly weary of his association with the role, delivering multiple snarky statements on the matter throughout his early career, most famously saying (via The Hollywood Reporter) that he "always hated that damned James Bond" and that he "would like to kill him".

Of course, any fan of the actor will know that his range extends far beyond Commander Bond. In the years after Dr. No started the most enduring franchise in cinemaConnery has shown that range in a number of films designed to prove his talent. 1965's The Hill is one of the most prominent examples, in which the Scot teamed up with American director Sidney Lumet to tell the story of five prisoners struggling under the harsh conditions of a North African military prison during World War II. Connery played one of the prisoners, delivering a deliciously restrained yet sharp performance that showed his depth of talent beyond Bond.

As the decade drew to a close, Connery donned the tuxedo twice more in Thunderball and You Only Live Twice, then left Bond behind. That is until 1971, when he was lured back for Diamonds Are Forever. But just because he's returned to Bond doesn't mean he's abandoned his attempt to branch out from the action franchise. In fact, one of the conditions for his return to the role was that United Artists provide $2 million for Connery to produce two films of his choosing. In 1973, the studio honored that offer when the actor reunited with Lumet for his darkest film yet, the crime drama The Offense. Little did he know that this humble picture would inspire a young Brit who would one day become arguably the greatest director in the world.

Christopher Nolan and the Bond franchise have been circling each other for years now. After making his name by rejuvenating the Batman franchise, Nolan has continued to establish himself as one of those rare directors who reliably dominates the box office while maintaining his artistic integrity. The fact that he's a Brit with a careful and discerning approach to filmmaking who has proven his ability to shepherd big-name franchises would suggest he's the ultimate choice for 007 - and yet, that hasn't happened yet, though Nolan seems all set to direct a Bond film.

While everyone waits for Nolan and Bond's guardians, EON Productions to come together, the director isn't shy about giving his opinion on the franchise. Asked about his favorite James Bond movie and actor, Nolan revealed "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and Timothy Dalton as his chosen ones. What is that? Not Connery? Well, it seems that when it comes to the original Bond actor, Nolan actually appreciates Connery the most for his other work - something that would no doubt have pleased Connery from the '60s and early '70s.

Not only does Nolan favor a non-Bond film as his favorite Connery performance, the director is positively circumspect in his praise of the late actor's abilities outside of Queen and Country bootlegs. During the appearance of In the video clubNolan chose Sidney Lumet's The Offense as the best Connery film, saying: “Unbelievably, that's Sean Connery - that's his best performance. A level of craftsmanship from Sean Connery you just won't see anywhere else (... ) that movie is absolutely amazing."

As well as praising "The Offense", Christopher Nolan added that it was also "very depressing". Indeed, the film is a rather dark entry in Sean Connery's filmography. One of five collaborations between the actor and Sidney Lumet, The Offense sees Connery play British detective Sergeant Johnson, a veteran of the force who has been slowly broken down over the years by the various disturbing cases he's been assigned to. The mental burden of his horrific career eventually causes Johnson to break down during the interrogation of suspected rapist and murderer Kenneth Baxter (Ian Bannen), with the detective beating his suspect before having to be dragged from the room. Baxter later dies in hospital, and the rest of the film focuses on Johnson's interrogation as he comes to terms with his actions.

So, all in all, The Offense is about as far removed from the James Bond films of the era as you can imagine, at least in terms of tone. But it seems to have struck a chord with Nolan, who speaks so enthusiastically of Connery's performance that it will probably inspire you to see the film immediately. While the actor eventually carved out a career that stands as a testament to his versatile talent, the fact that Nolan wants one of the films he made to showcase that talent during a time when he felt pigeon-holed is sure to endear himself to the man himself if he's still is with him. us.

However, as much as he loves The Offense, noted physical advocate Christopher Nolan would undoubtedly be disappointed that Lumet advocated moving away from film-to-film.