Bradley Ruzicka

The second post in my “James Bond at 60” series focuses on the Sean Connery Years.

Admittedly, I didn’t see the Connery films at the time they were released. When the last Eon-produced Connery movie, Diamonds Are Forever, was released in late 1971, I was only 12 years old. Neither of my parents thought I was quite ready yet for this type of cinematic experience! However, since then, I’ve watched each of his films numerous times and have to agree with many of the critics as well as fans of the Bond series. Connery did arguably create the ultimate Bond persona.

Connery was the first actor to portray Bond on film, starting with Dr. No in 1962. A Scotsman, an amateur bodybuilder, and a muscular 6’2″ tall, Connery had come to the attention of producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli after several appearances in British films from the late 1950s. Bond creator Ian Fleming originally disapproved of casting Connery, believing him to be an overgrown stuntman who lacked the finesse and elegance to play the character. He envisaged a suave actor, such as David Niven, playing the role. But Broccoli disagreed with Fleming’s view.

“I wanted a ballsy guy … put a bit of veneer over that tough Scottish hide and you’ve got Fleming’s Bond instead of all the mincing poofs we had applying for the job”. The selection of Connery was also based on his looks and sex appeal. While not Broccoli’s first choice, actor Patrick McGoohan turned down the role, his wife Dana is said to have been instrumental in persuading her husband that Connery was the right man. After he was chosen, director Terence Young took Connery to his tailor and hairdresser, introducing him to the restaurants, casinos, and women of London.

In the words of Bond novelist Raymond Benson, Young educated the actor “in the ways of being dapper, witty, and above all, cool”. Connery’s interpretation of the character differed considerably from Fleming’s, being more promiscuous and cold-blooded than the literary version. Connery described Bond as “a complete sensualist—senses highly tuned, awake to everything, quite amoral. I particularly like him because he thrives on conflict”. Academic James Chapman observed that for Dr. No, Connery’s interpretation of the character, although not complete, showed the actor “should be credited with having established a new style of performance: a British screen hero in the manner of an American leading man”.

In his second film, From Russia With Love, Connery looked less nervous and edgy; he gave “a relaxed, wry performance of subtle wit and style”. Pfeiffer and Worrall noted that Connery “personified James Bond with such perfection that even Ian Fleming… admitted that it was difficult imagining anyone else in the part”. In fact, Fleming was so impressed he wrote Connery’s Scottish heritage into the character beginning with his 1964 novel You Only Live Twice. Academic Jeremy Black declared that “Connery made the role his own and created the Bond audience for the cinema”.

Black also observed that Connery gave Bond a “spare, pared-down character… [with] inner bleakness along with the style”. Connery played Bond with “the right mix of cool charisma, violence and arrogance… against which all others are judged”. Benson perceived that Connery “embodies a ruggedness and an intense screen presence that transcends any preconceived notions about the character”. He also noted that Bond was witty but contains “an assured toughness that epitomizes the machismo male”.

Roger Moore, who succeeded Connery, agreed with Black and Benson, commenting that “Sean was Bond. He created Bond. He embodied Bond and because of Sean, Bond became an instantly recognizable character the world over—he was rough, tough, mean and witty… he was a bloody good 007″. Similarly, Daniel Craig, the latest actor to play 007, said after Connery’s death, “Sir Sean Connery will be remembered as Bond and so much more. He defined an era and a style. The wit and charm he portrayed on screen could be measured in megawatts; he helped create the modern blockbuster.” In addition to projecting charm, wit and masculinity, Connery was characteristically laconic in his delivery.

Interviewed by Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci in 1965, Connery identified where he had altered the character for the films, saying “I said to the producers that the character had one defect, there was no humor about him; to get him accepted, they’d have to let me play him tongue-in-cheek, so people could laugh. They agreed, and there you are: today Bond is accepted to such an extent that even philosophers take the trouble to analyze him, even intellectuals enjoy defending him or attacking him. And even while they’re laughing at him, people take him terribly seriously”.

Connery went on to add that “Bond is important: this invincible superman that every man would like to copy, that every woman would like to conquer, this dream we all have of survival. And then one can’t help liking him”. But, after the pressures of five films in six years (Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice), Connery announced during the filming of You Only Live Twice in 1967 that he was leaving the role, saying, “It became a terrible pressure, like living in a goldfish bowl… that was part of the reason I wanted to be finished with Bond. Also, I had become completely identified with it, and it became very wearing and very boring”.

After a hiatus of one film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, in which George Lazenby played Bond, Connery returned to the role for 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. David Picker, the head of Eon’s financial backer, United Artists, made it clear Connery was to be enticed back to the role and that money was no object, despite both Saltzman and Broccoli’s distinct lack of enthusiasm. When approached by UA about resuming the role of Bond, Connery demanded, and received, a fee of $1.25 million (about $8 million in 2020 dollars) as well as 12.5% of the gross profits.

As a further enticement, UA also offered to back two films of his choice. Unfortunately, Connery’s performance received mixed reviews, with Benson stating that he “looks weary and bored… he is overweight, slow-moving, and doesn’t seem to be trying to create a credible character”. Despite that, Benson considers that Connery, “still radiates more screen presence than Roger Moore or George Lazenby”. On the other hand, Pauline Kael said “Connery’s James Bond is less lecherous than before and less foppish—and he’s better this way.” Regardless, Diamonds Are Forever would be Connery’s last Eon-produced Bond film.

But it wouldn’t be the last time he played the Bond character. In the early 1980s, producer Jack Schwartzman moved ahead with a non-Eon Bond movie following the controversy over the 1961 novel Thunderball and the subsequent long legal battle. The result was 1983’s Never Say Never Again. Connery accepted an offer to play Bond one final time, this time asking for, and receiving, a fee of $3 million (almost $8 million in 2020 dollars), a percentage of the profits, as well as casting, director and script approval. The script had several references to Bond’s advancing years, playing on Connery being 52 at the time of filming.

David Robinson, reviewing the film for The Times stated that, “Connery… is back, looking hardly a day older or thicker, and still outclassing every other exponent of the role, in the good-natured throwaway with which he parries all the sex and violence on the way”. Connery earned a total of $6.6M over seven films. In 2003, his portrayal of James Bond was selected as the third greatest hero in cinema history by the American Film Institute, behind only Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch and Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones. After a long and distinguished post-Bond career, Connery passed away on October 31, 2020, at the age of 90.

Pierce Brosnan, the fifth actor to play Bond, paid his respects with the following tribute. “Sir Sean Connery, you were my greatest James Bond as a boy, and as a man who became James Bond himself. You cast a long shadow of cinematic splendor that will live on forever. You led the way for us all who followed in your iconic footsteps. Each man in his turn looked to you with reverence and admiration as we forged ahead with our own interpretations of the role. You were mighty in every way, as an actor and as a man, and will remain so till the end of time. You were loved by the world and will be missed. God bless, rest now, be at peace.”

Following is a brief description of each of Connery’s Eon-produced Bond films.

— Dr. No (Released October 5, 1962): John Strangways, the British Intelligence (SIS) Station Chief in Jamaica, is killed. In response, British agent James Bond, also known as 007, is sent to Jamaica to investigate the circumstances. During his investigation, Bond meets Quarrel, a Cayman fisherman working for the CIA, who introduces Bond to Agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord). Quarrel had also been working with Strangways around the nearby islands to collect mineral samples. One of the islands was Crab Key, home to the reclusive Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman).

Bond and Quarrel visit the island, where 007 meets a local shell diver, Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress). The three are attacked by Dr. No’s men, who kill Quarrel while Bond and Honey are taken prisoner. Dr. No informs them he is a member of SPECTRE, the SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion. He plans to disrupt the Project Mercury space launch from Cape Canaveral with his atomic-powered radio beam. Bond kills Dr. No, preventing him from executing his plan. He and Ryder ultimately escape from the island, blowing up his lair in the process.

Dr. No was produced on a low budget of $1.1M. However, under Young’s direction, it was a financial success, earning $59.5M. While critical reaction was mixed upon the film’s release, over time it gained a reputation as one of the series’ best installments. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, Dr. No has a 95% rating based on 60 reviews, third highest Bond film on the site. Its consensus reads: “Featuring plenty of the humor, action, and escapist thrills the series would be known for, Dr. No kicks off the Bond franchise in style.” American film critic Danny Peary, writing in 1986, described it as a “cleverly conceived adaption of Ian Fleming’s enjoyable spy thriller. … Picture has sex, violence, wit, [and] terrific action sequences”.

Many of the iconic aspects of a typical Bond film were established in Dr. No. The film begins with an introduction to the character through the view of a gun barrel and a highly stylized main title sequence, both created by Maurice Binder. Production Designer Ken Adam established an elaborate visual style that is one of the hallmarks of the Bond film series. The quote “Bond … James Bond”, became a catch phrase that entered the lexicon of Western popular culture. In 2005, it was honored as the 22nd greatest quotation in cinema history by the American Film Institute.

— From Russia With Love (Released October 10, 1963): SPECTRE’s expert planner Kronsteen (Vladek Sheybal) devises a plot to steal a Lektor cryptographic device from the Soviet Union and sell it back to them. At the same time, SPECTRE plans to exact revenge on Bond for killing their agent, Dr. No. Ex-SMERSH operative Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) is in charge of the mission. (SMERSH was a Russian intelligence organization formed in the early 1940s.) She recruits Donald Grant (Robert Shaw) as an assassin and Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), a cipher clerk at the Soviet consulate in Istanbul, as the unwitting bait.

Bond travels to Turkey and partners with MI6 agent Ali Kerim-Bey (Pedro Armendaiz) to procure the Lektor. Romanova agrees to provide plans to the consulate in order to help them obtain the device. Using those plans, Bond and Kerim-Bey locate and take possession of the Lektor. The two of them, along with Romanova, escape on the Orient Express. However, they’re followed by Grant, who kills Kerim Bey and a Soviet security officer. Grant pretends to be another British agent and meets Bond. Over dinner, Grant drugs Romanova then overcomes Bond.

Grant reveals that Romanova was a pawn in SPECTRE’s plan and intends to kill both of them, staging it as a murder-suicide, leaving behind faked blackmail evidence that will scandalize the British intelligence community. But Bond tricks Grant into opening his attaché case in a manner that detonates a tear gas booby trap, allowing Bond to attack and kill him. Bond and Romanova escape with the Lektor to Venice. Klebb, disguised as a hotel maid, makes a final attempt to reacquire the device and kill Bond, but ends up being shot by Romanova.

Following the success of Dr. No, UA approved a sequel, doubling the budget available for Saltzman and Broccoli to $2M. The studio also approved a bonus for Connery, who received $100,000 along with his $54,000 salary, up from the $16,000 he received for his first film. Directed again by Young, production ran over budget and behind schedule. In the end, the producers had to rush to finish by the scheduled October release date. The film was ultimately a critical and commercial success, taking in over $78M worldwide, more than its predecessor Dr. No. In his 1986 book, Peary described it as “an excellent, surprisingly tough and gritty James Bond film” which is “refreshingly free of … gimmickry”.

Connery, Craig, Timothy Dalton, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli considered From Russia With Love their favorite. Albert Broccoli listed it with Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me as one of his three favorites, explaining “it was with this film that the Bond style and formula were perfected.” Rotten Tomatoes sampled 62 reviews and judged 97% of them to be positive, second-best on the site. Its summary states: “The second James Bond film … is a razor-sharp, briskly-paced Cold War thriller that features several electrifying action scenes.”

— Goldfinger (Released September 17, 1964): Bond is ordered to investigate bullion dealer Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe). He sees Goldfinger cheating at cards and stops him by distracting his employee, who is subsequently killed by Goldfinger’s Korean manservant Oddjob (Harold Sakata). Bond follows the bullion dealer to Switzerland where he’s captured reconnoitering Goldfinger’s refinery. He’s drugged and subsequently imprisoned on the villain’s Kentucky stud farm. Bond escapes briefly to witness Goldfinger’s meeting with the American mafia, who agree to provide materials needed for an operation to rob Fort Knox.

Bond is recaptured after hearing the details. But he seduces Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), Goldfinger’s private pilot, convincing her to inform the American authorities. Goldfinger’s private army breaks into Fort Knox and access the vault, where Bond fights and electrocutes Oddjob. Meanwhile, U.S. troops arrive and defeat Goldfinger’s army, but he escapes. Goldfinger resurfaces when he hijacks Bond’s plane on its way to Washington DC. As the two struggle, Bond shoots out a window. The shot creates an explosive decompression, killing Goldfinger when he is sucked out the window. Bond and Pussy parachute safely from the aircraft before it crashes.

Goldfinger was the first Bond film to be directed by someone other than Young. Guy Hamilton took his place and would go on to direct a total of four Bond movies. The film opened to favorable critical reception and was a huge financial success ($124.9M), recouping its $3M budget in just two weeks. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 99% rating based on 69 reviews, the highest-rated of all Bond movies on the site. The consensus reads, “Goldfinger is where James Bond as we know him comes into focus – it features one of 007’s most famous lines (‘A martini. Shaken, not stirred’) and a wide range of gadgets that would become the series’ trademark”.

After Goldfinger, Bond “became a true phenomenon.” Many of the elements introduced in this film appeared in later films, such as the extensive use of technology and gadgets, extensive pre-credits sequence that was not part of the main storyline, and the tradition of Bond theme songs introduced over the opening title sequence. Also introduced is the briefing done by the character Q, played by Desmond Llewelyn, allowing the viewer to see the gadgets in development. Goldfinger became the first Bond film to win an Academy Award (Best Sound Effects Editing) in 1965.

— Thunderball (Released December 9, 1965): Bond investigates the hijacking of an Avro Vulcan aircraft by SPECTRE. The criminal organization steals the plane’s two atomic bombs and subsequently demand £100 million in white flawless uncut diamonds from NATO within seven days for their return. Bond follows a lead to the Bahamas where he meets up with his CIA counterpart and friend Felix Leiter (Rik Van Nutter). He also meets with MI6 quartermaster Q (Desmond Llewelyn) to receive equipment designed to help find the bombs, including an underwater infrared camera and miniature underwater breathing apparatus.

Bond and Leiter suspect a rich playboy, Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), has masterminded the theft. They search the area around his yacht and then the area where they think the yacht may have travelled. Bond also meets Largo’s mistress, Domino (Claudine Auger), saving her life after a snorkeling accident. Later, 007 goes to a party where he sees Largo and Domino gambling. Bond enters the game against Largo, wins, and subsequently takes Domino for a dance. Recognizing each other as adversaries, Bond and Largo begin a tense cat-and-mouse game.

They each attempt to get the drop on the other while still pretending ignorance of their adversary’s true nature. Meanwhile, Bond clandestinely meets up with Domino while scuba diving, telling her that Largo killed her brother as part of the bomb theft and asks for help locating them. After finding the plane, but without the nuclear devices on board, Bond and Leiter arrange for Largo’s yacht to be tracked. They ambush Largo and his men as the bombs are being moved. Both are recovered but Largo escapes. Finding him, Largo and Bond engage in an underwater battle, but Domino ultimately kills Largo with a spear gun as revenge for her brother’s death.

Young returned once last time to direct Thunderball. But the film was met with mixed reviews. Some critics and viewers showered praise on the movie, branding it a welcome addition to the series. Others complained of the repetitively monotonous aquatic action and prolonged length (130 minutes). On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 87% rating based on 52 reviews, ranking it sixth highest on the site. Its consensus reads, “Lavishly rendered set pieces and Sean Connery’s enduring charm make Thunderball a big, fun adventure, even if it doesn’t quite measure up to the series’ previous heights.”

Regardless, the picture was a success at the box office, earning $141.2M worldwide on a budget of $9M. It surpassed the earnings of each of the three preceding films in the series and remained the highest-grossing Bond film until Live and Let Die (1973) assumed the record. After adjusting its earnings to 2020 prices, the movie made over $1.1B, the second-most financially successful Bond film after 2012’s Skyfall (more than $1.2B). In 1966, Thunderball won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, the second consecutive Bond movie to win such an award.

— You Only Live Twice (Released June 12, 1967): 007 is sent to Japan to investigate the hijacking of an American spacecraft by an unidentified space vehicle. Upon his arrival, Bond is contacted by Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi), assistant to the Japanese secret service leader Tiger Tanaka (Tetsuro Tamba). Bond establishes that the mastermind behind the hijacking is Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasence), SPECTRE’s leader, in conjunction with Mr. Osato (Teru Shimada), a local industrialist. He also learns that the People’s Republic of China hired SPECTRE to start a Soviet-American war, hoping to become the world’s only surviving superpower.

Bond and Kissy Suzuki (Mie Hama), his partner after Aki is killed in an assassination attempt on 007, follow the trail to Blofeld’s island lair. They infiltrate the island, disguised as a Japanese fisherman and his wife. Meanwhile, a Soviet spacecraft is captured by the same unidentified vessel, further heightening tensions between the Soviets and the Americans. Establishing that the mouth of the volcano is actually a hatch to a secret rocket base, Bond slips in through the crater door while Kissy returns to alert the Japanese Secret Service. Tanaka subsequently sends ninjas troops to attack the island.

In the meantime, Blofeld launches another vessel to capture a second U.S. spacecraft. Such an act would trigger a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. Bond manages to distract Blofeld and create a diversion, allowing him to open the base’s hatch and let in the ninjas. During the ensuing battle, Mr. Osato is killed by Blofeld for his failure to eliminate 007. Bond destroys SPECTRE’s space vehicle before it captures the U.S. capsule, averting an attack. Blofeld then activates the base’s self-destruct system and escapes. Bond, Kissy, and the surviving ninjas also escape before the base explodes. They’re subsequently rescued by Japanese and British Secret Services.

Lewis Gilbert made his Bond directorial debut. The film grossed $111.6M worldwide on a budget of $9.5M. However, it was the first in the series to see a decline in box-office revenue. Reviews were mixed to positive, with a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus reads, “With exotic locales, impressive special effects, and a worthy central villain, You Only Live Twice overcomes a messy and implausible story to deliver another memorable early Bond flick.” Entertainment Weekly ranked it as the second-best Bond film while MSN ranked it as the fifth worst in the series.

At the beginning of production, Broccoli and Salzman were faced with the problem of a disenchanted star. Connery was tired of playing Bond and all of the associated commitments. To date, the producers had been able to retain him by increasing his salary substantially over the past three films; $500,000 for Goldfinger, $750,000 for Thunderball, and $1M for You Only Live Twice. But the time had come find a replacement. During filming in Japan, it was announced that Connery would retire, to be replaced by Lazenby. Since its release, the movie has become the most parodied of the Bond films, most prominently by the Austin Powers series.

— Diamonds Are Forever (Released December 14, 1971): Bond is tasked with investigating a major diamond smuggling ring, beginning in Africa, running through Holland and the United Kingdom, ending in the United States. At the same time, Bond is intent on avenging his wife’s death by finding and killing SPECTRE mastermind Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Gray). Disguised as professional smuggler and murderer Peter Franks (Joe Robinson), Bond travels to Amsterdam to meet contact Tiffany Case (Jill St. John). He’s given the diamonds and ships them to his CIA contact, Felix Leiter (Norman Burton), for safe keeping.

Bond continues moving through the chain, traveling to the U.S. He ultimately arrives at the Whyte House, a Las Vegas casino-hotel owned by the reclusive billionaire Willard Whyte (Jimmy Dean). Bond teams up with Case to get the diamonds, instructing her to retrieve them from Leiter. She initially reneges, passing the diamonds on to the next smuggler, but changes her mind after her life is threatened. Case then leads Bond to a pick-up by Bert Saxby (Bruce Cabot), Whyte’s head of security, and subsequently to a research laboratory owned by Whyte. There he discovers the diamonds are being used to build a satellite.

Suspecting Whyte, Bond tries to confront him in his hotel but instead finds Blofeld, who has kidnaped Whyte. Blofeld captures Bond and leaves him to die in a newly built pipeline. He escapes and subsequently rescues Whyte. With Whyte’s help, Bond raids Blofeld’s lab after Case is taken hostage. He finds out that the previously discovered satellite can blow up nuclear missiles. Blofeld admits he intends to auction it to the highest bidder. Bond and Whyte establish that Blofeld is using one of the billionaire’s offshore oil rigs as his base. Leiter and Bond attack the rig, stopping Blofeld’s operation and dispersing his organization.

Diamonds Are Forever was a commercial success ($116M worldwide on a budget of $7.2M) but received criticism for its humorous camp tone. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 64% based on 50 reviews, the lowest rated Connery film. The site’s consensus states, “[The film] is a largely derivative affair, but it’s still pretty entertaining nonetheless, thanks to great stunts, witty dialogue, and the presence of Connery.” Saltzman and Broccoli used Goldfinger as their inspiration, hoping to recreate its success. They brought back director Guy Hamilton as well as Shirley Bassey to perform vocals on the title theme song.

Also, on order of the studio, the producers lured back Connery to star in one more Eon produced film after Lazenby’s sudden departure. Although UA as well as Broccoli and Saltzman wanted him to return for a seventh Bond movie, Connery refused, saying he would “never again” play the role. At age 41, having played Bond six times, he wanted to be known for more than his portrayal of 007. Stakes were high after Eon’s first attempt to replace the actor ended with a messy breakup between the producers and Lazenby. After almost a decade, a new James Bond, one that could replace the popular Connery, would need to be found for the series to survive.

To end this post, I’ve included a compilation video showing Connery’s “50 Great James Bond Quotes” as well as a clip from the first Bond film, Dr. No. The clip highlights the first time Bond is shown on film as well as highlights his now famous introduction; “Bond, James Bond”.

Enjoy!

As always, your feedback is appreciated!