Sean Connery's 10 Greatest Movie Performances

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan has appeared in multiple films, video games, and a TV series, but The Hunt for Red October, his first onscreen outing, remains one of the best thanks in large part to the performance of Sean Connery as the complex but ultimately honourable Marko Ramius.

As the commander of the titular vessel, Ramius is a ranking Soviet officer who grows disillusioned with his government’s cold war plans. Much of the film is dedicated to Jack Ryan (played here by Alec Baldwin) figuring out precisely what Ramius’ intentions are, and Connery’s stoic performance helps to raise the stakes - he plays Ramius as a man of conviction and action, giving nothing away.

Connery drew on his real life navy experience in his portrayal of a grizzled submarine commander, and his believability does wonders for a film that aims for realism and (slightly outdated) political commentary. Connery could do gravitas standing on his head, but he works hard to build a full character here. If his Russian accent is a tad suspect, he tackles it with such verve that it’s easy to overlook.