Connery plays leader of secret society

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 18

Connery plays leader of secret society

Sean Connery plays the leader of a secret society of Irish mine-workers in Pennsylvania, circa 1876, in the movie, “The Molly Maguires,” screening on Two at midday today. Richard Harris plays a man who is to infiltrate the group and the film also stars Samantha Eggar and Frank Finlay of “Bouquet of Barbed Wire.” “The Molly Maguires” was co-produced and directed by Martin Ritt. A protege of the director, Elia Kazan, Ritt taught at the Actors’ Studio where future stars, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward and Rod Steiger, were among his pupils. In 1957, Ritt made an auspicious debut as a director with “Edge of the City,” a realistic drama with racial overtones set on the waterfront. His reputation as a “thinking” director was established with “Hud” (1963), “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” (1965) and “Hombre” (1967). Ritt has often extracted strong performances from actors. In 1979 Sally Field won an Academy Award for her powerful portrayal of “Norma Rae.” Other notable films that Ritt has directed include “Pete ’n’ Tillie” (which teamed Walter Matthau and Carol Burnett) and “Sounder” about a family of black sharecroppers starring Cicely Tyson.