The Connery Era (1962-1967)

 

Around the late-1950s to early 1960s, two film producers Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzmann had both purchased the rights to Ian Fleming's book series based on the character of James Bond. They had asked United Artists for financing, but the studio would only put up $1 million, but later the UK arm of UA provided an extra $100,000 to create a climax for the first movie "Dr. No". The biggest part of the movie was casting an actor for the role of James Bond, Brocooli and Saltzman offered the role to Cary Grant, who turned it down due to his age, James Mason, Richard Burton, Patrick McGoohan and David Niven also turned down the role. Future Bond actor Roger Moore was said to have been considered, but instead to role went to an unknown Scottish actor Sean Connery, who both Brocolli and Saltzman thought as the perfect choice, however Fleming disapproved of the actor feeling that he was "thuggish" and did not have any high class qualities. Connery was perfect as Bond, he had right amount of roguishness and sophistication to make audiences accept that he was a globe throtting superspy who could easily handle himself while at the same time make the ladies swoon. Connery's Bond films hold up remarkably well today, "Dr. No" for the first in the franchise is a great start. The film isn't as OTT as the films eventually become, despite that the plot is about an evil man with metal hands who wants world domination. In the movie we are introduced to S.P.E.C.T.R.E., the evil organisation who would plague Bond in future movies. Recurring Bond ally, CIA agent Felix Leiter makes his first appearance played by Jack Lord of "Hawaii 5-0" fame, the character of Felix would eventually be recast in a movie he would appear in throughout the series until "Licence to Kill" (1989). Bond avoids deaths many times, but the threats are very reasonable, death by spider, car chase, being shot while asleep. Ursla Andress introduction is still great, I wonder how many times back in 1962 kids would replay that scene in their head.

 "From Russia With Love" followed "Dr. No" a year later in 1963, after American President John F. Kennedy announced that Ian Fleming's book was one of his favourites out the series this helped quickly determine what would be next for 007 in film, and "From Russia With Love" is a more traditional spy thriller, it does have a lot of the Bond things we would come to expect, the villains, the girls, even our first visit with Desmond Llewellyn's Q, but its pulled back and not as fantastical for a Bond film, the best scene is when Bond fights Red Grant played by Robert Shaw, it's an intense scene in a train compartment, it's a suspenseful scene to see Bond seeming so powerless and being so close to death, even though Q's brief case comes into play, it's a brutal scenes as Bond desperately fights for his life. Connery had said that "From Russia With Love" is his favourite out of his Bond films. Initially Ian Fleming wasn't too happy with Connery's casting but later became convinced that he was the best actor for the role and gave the Bond character a Scottish background in the novel "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".

"Goldfinger", released in 1964 is when the series heads into real Bond territory, huge budget, cool gadgets, outlandish scenes, castration by laser, it's a lot of fun, this film laid the groundwork for Bond movies in the future, Sean Connery looks like he is enjoying himself in this one. The movie also lit up the Bond merchandise too, action figures and toy Aston Martins. This is the most famous Bond movie.

Thunderball, released in 1965 was the only way to follow up the huge success of "Goldfinger" by going to more exotic locations and spend even more money. A legal dispute over the film rights to the novel surfaced, but despite this another impressive movie, Connery's great, Largo is an intimidating villain, Domino is a great (and attractive) Bond lady, however there are some things that I'm not crazy about, the underwater scenes, while fun, seem to drag and looking at the jetpack scene from the opening, it looks like a cheap escape.

"You Only Live Twice", released in 1967, has great set designs by Ken Adams, and a great music score and song, however it's not as good as the other Bond films that came before. The film feels like a travel log of Japan, and the story seems to drag. The premise of having Bond disguising himself as a Japanese farmer is ridiculous and not the least bit convincing. After seeing hints of him in the previous films, Donald Pleasance does a fine job as big bad Blofeld. Connery, while looks like he was in good shape, he looks past his prime and was beginning to show his age. He also looked board in the role. While he had some nice leading ladies in this movie, there not pretty memorable. After filming YOLT, Connery announced that he was stepping down from the Bond role, having gotten tired of repetitive plots, lack of character development, fear of being typecast and having disagreements with Brocolli and Saltzmann. With news of Connery's department, Brocolli had stated that there would still be an audience for Bond films no matter who's playing the character.