James Bond Series
When Ian Fleming wrote his spy novels and created the character of MI6 agent James Bond, code 007,it was a perfect material for making movies. Indeed, movies were made and are still being made, making it the longest ever running film franchise in the world. Nearing six decades, the franchise has created 27 movies (one pending release).It is but natural that in such a long duration many actors have played the role of the flamboyant and daredevil spy who kills enemies and seduces women with equal ease. Till date, seven actors have played this much coveted role in films and one in a TV serial.
In fact Bond appeared on the screen for the first time in 1954 television adaptation of Casino Royale and American actor Barry Nelson was the first screen Bond.
When Eon Productions started working on the first Bond movie Dr No in 1961, the search for the protagonist began. Initially British actors Cary Grant and David Niven were considered for it but the choice finally fell on 31 years old Scottish actor Sean Connery. Ian Fleming was not happy with this choice in the beginning because of his physical prowess and sexual magnetism but after seeing him portray the character impressed him so much that he incorporated the aspects of Connery’s persona in his later novels also.
Sean Connery is probably the most iconic James Bond to have hit the silver screen. Even today when we remember the words, “My name is Bond, James Bond”,, the image of Connery emerges in our minds.
He played the iconic figure from 1962 to 1967 and was recalled in 1983 for playing Bond in Never Say Never Again. It is considered an unofficial Bond film since it was made outside EON Productions, by an individual producer. Connery played Bond six times.
The next Bond was David Niven in the first edition of Casino Royale, another film outside EON.He was the most unlikely Bond and the film was more of a comic send-up of 007.The film saw David Niven playing the classiest and the most atypical Bond of all.
When Sean Connery first bowed out of Bond films in 1967, first time actor and Australian model George Lazenby replaced. His one and only film was On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969.He was very disheartened with this film and when he was chosen for the next one, The Man With The Golden Gun, Sean Connery made his first come back and Lazenby vacated the role .
Roger Moore was working in a Bond-esque television adaptation of Leslie Charteris’ The Saint when he was chosen to play the next James in 1973’s Live And Let Die.. Although fans of Bond films have always been critical of him because of his joke-laden portrayal, he created a record by playing Bond in seven films upto 1985’s A View To A Kill. Despite all the criticism , he proved to be the most successful Bond till date.
When the cast for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was being considered, the name of Timothy Dalton also came up, who was a classically trained actor. But at that time he was deemed too young to play the role. The same Dalton was chosen as Bond in The Living Daylights. He was considered to be a super serious Bond without the tone of winks and smiles. He was more like the character Ian Fleming had initially envisaged. He was repeated in 1989’s License To Kill.
Bond franchise had some legal issues after this film and the cold war had also ended so for the 1995 film Goldeneye, the exploits of 007 needed a severe revamp. The choice of the protagonist fell on Pierce Brosnan, who had earlier been considered for The Living Daylights but at that time he had other contractual obligations. His portrayal of Bond in the four films he did, Brosnan was a mix of the wit of Roger Moore and the killer edge of Sean Connery. It was during his era that his boss M turned into a female character played by Judy Dench.
The present Bond is Daniel Craig who bagged this role while Clive Owen and Henry Cavill were competing for it. Starting with 2006’s Casino Royale, four of his films have been released and the fifth and last one is awaiting release.
The hunt for the next James Bond is on and soon we may hear the name with the announcement of the next movie.
Courtesy : Mr. N Bohra