in association with
in association with
bond girls
Casino Royale was a remake. Not many people know that, but the original film was made in the late 1950s, and was a comedy. It’s best to ignore it, because it was a truly awful film. Instead, a journey through the history of James Bond (in film, at least) should begin where most people think it did. “Bond, James Bond.” 1962 first heard those words uttered on the silver screen when a relatively unknown Sean Connery appeared as super-agent James Bond. The film, Dr. No, was a success, and started the longest running series of feature films ever known, on their long journey. But, arguably, it wasn’t until 1963’s From Russia with Love that Bond’s character became solidified. It was this film that defined Connery within the role, taking a deeper look at his background. It also defined a theme that would stay with the films for around twenty years – the Cold War. That said, Goldfinger (1964) didn’t have much to do with fighting Communism. Instead, it brought the focus onto extreme capitalism, and pitted Bond against a villain bent on ruining the world economy and enriching himself. 1965’s Thunderball similarly ignored the Cold War, and
007 loves the ladies
Honey Ryder
The real question is: considering the amount of cars Bond has destroyed, wouldn’t it be cheaper just to let one of the villains win?
Bond is VERY protective of his garden, so leave the plants alone!
introduced another theme that would last through many Bond films – a global organisation, bent on wrong-doing, called SPECTRE. You Only Live Twice, which came out in 1967, threw a little suspicion at the Russians, but it was the same evil group behind the whole plot. This ambitious film is notable for making use (at the time) of the biggest ever sound stage construction. Still the Cold War lurked in the background, but the conflict between East and West would never materialize into anything more than saber-rattling. Connery’s Bond was a hero of the time; a man’s man, hard drinking, hard fighting and with woman dying to drape themselves over him. His sophistication was a thin veneer over the brutality that he ascribed to, something that wouldn’t be seen in another Bond actor until 2006 in Casino Royale. “This never happened to the other fellow” After four films, Connery had had
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enough. Worried about being typecast, the now-famous actor decided to try other projects, and the producers of the Bond films were left in a quandary. Who would replace him as the world’s greatest secret agent? Their choice was an Australian model named George Lazenby, and he made his first (and only) appearance as Bond in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. This film is one of the most important in the series, as it deals with Bond’s marriage to Teresa, and is formative in his character (because Teresa is killed by SPECTRE.) Yet, despite the importance of this plot-line, the public didn’t take well to Lazenby as the super-spy, partially thanks to the producers dubbing a different voice over many of Lazenby’s scenes. Lazenby also had notorious difficulties with the film’s director, Peter Hunt, so refused to talk to the actor directly. He also was reported as considering the Bond character as out of touch with the liberated Seventies. Although Lazenby was signed for
seven Bond films, he quit – as he was contractually tied to star in Diamonds Are Forever, he received a partial payment for the film anyway, but he refunded this. The producers all but begged Connery to return. He did (though at an astronomical salary, plus the producers had to pay actor John Gavin as well, as he was initially contracted to play the next Bond), appearing for last time officially as James Bond in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. The film saw Bond’s reaction to the death of his wife, perfectly pulled off by the more physical Connery. The wise-cracking, suave Scotsman put the series back on track, but he wasn’t going to stay. “Just be disarming, darling” The new Bond was to be an already famous actor. He had been made so by his part in The Saint television series. He brought with him a new suaveness to counterpoint Connery’s charming brutality, and a sense of distaste at
violence. He wore double breasted suits and never drank martini, preferring bourbon. His name was Roger Moore. Moore would go on to be the most prolific Bond actor, making more films in the role than any other: seven, beating Connery’s six official (not counting one unofficial) cracks at the part. Live and Let Die (1973) was his debut in the role, and he charmed audiences with his upper class manners from the word go. His next attempt at the part came in the part of 1974’s Man With The Golden Gun, but it wasn’t until the release of The Spy Who Loved Me that he truly became James Bond. Over the next eight years, Moore would reprise the role another four times: Moonraker (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Octopussy (1983) and A View to a Kill (1985). Many Bond fans cite the very science-fiction Moonraker as the worst Bond film ever made, beating even Lazenby’s attempt at being poor. During this period, Orion pictures made an unofficial Bond film (the official ones are made by United Artists). It brought Sean Connery back as an ageing Bond in a remake of Thunderball, and was released in 1983. It was called Never Say Never Again. Moore’s Bond performances took a swing or two at the still-continuing Cold War, but these adversaries were relegated to the position of “quiet threat,” leaving Bond to deal with more
He can fight the world’s most evil people, but Bond needs help taking a bath and someone to hold his gun...
(Dr No) Who could forget the Aphroditelike emergence of Honey Ryder from the waves lapping at the shores of Dr No’s dangerous island? Her character was very strong for a film of the time, although she had a very poor education. Ryder is easily considered the iconic Bond girl.
Solitaire (Live and Let Die) Kananga’s captive tarot card reader, Solitaire was a reluctant Bond girl. Her ability to foretell the future was tied to her virginity (which Bond takes care of in fairly short order) and her habit of attracting voodootypes just caused trouble. She didn’t do much to save the day, but for pure beauty few came close.
Pussy Galore (Goldfinger) Although her name was very controversial at the time, Pussy Galore is one of the world’s favourite Bond girls. The leader of an elite, all-girl flying team, she was in the employ of the dastardly Auric Goldfinger at the time of meeting Bond. He changed her loyalties in his usual fashion.
Major Anya Amasova (The Spy Who Loved Me) This gorgeous femme fatale sought revenge on the British agent who killed her lover (Bond, of course) but fell for his charms and was instrumental in helping Bond put paid to the plans of Stromberg. She was a Major working for the KGB at the time of their meeting – one of many to fall for Bond’s wit and ways.
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