Bond, James Bond

[moira finnie]

Since Sean Connery is the SOTM in May on TCM, shouldn't we discuss the character that sent his career into orbit? I first saw Sir Sean in Darby O'Gill and the Little People when I was small enough to be one of those little people too. Even at about the age of four, I knew that this guy was something special, as did millions of others. It wasn't that he was so cool or rough or tough or even sauve. He was funny and, oh, yeah, great looking.

I never saw the James Bond movies he'd starred in until the 1980s though, and found that he was the funniest actor to ever play this amusingly and stylishly spy. Sure, the situations are absurd and the attitudes toward the women and other races and classes are really creaky (even for the '60s). But the movies were fun when Connery played Ian Fleming's character.

Are you able to enjoy any of these films?

Which villain do you like the best?

Do you prefer another actor in the role of Bond?

[MissGoddess]

For me there's only one Bond and it's Sean. I agree it's because he is charming but mostly it's because he's the only one of the Bonds I found to possess a measure of danger in his makeup. I would have thought this quality standard equipment for the role, but none of the other 007 actors possessed it (for me) in the slightest degree. Sean brings an element of maverick unpredictability which I like to think is HIM, a burly working class Scott inhabiting the character of a polished, worldly sophisticate. The other 007s were polished, worldly and smart---Roger Moore was also droll. But none of them worry me about what would happen if I made them mad or make me think the villains were up against it with him. Only Sean seemed both shrewdly competent and phsycially imposing enough to take on the best of the worst.

As for the franchise, I enjoy them, but for a fan of movies from the 1960s, they aren't really among my tippy top favorites. I don't know why, perhaps they are just too masculine, too action-oriented to appeal that strongly to me.

My favorite Sean Connery movie is a Hitchcock film, not a 007 film, MARNIE, and I'm also looking forward to hopefully seeing ALL of The Hill at last. I've never been able to finish it, though it's a fine performance by Sean, maybe his best??

I haven't poured over the entire schedule, but so far no mention of his starring role opposite the only movie diva to costar with two of the most famous future double agents, Lana Turner, in ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE (Lana's leading man in DIANE was Roger Moore). It's one of my favorite soapers of Lana's and it's another example of a time when older actresses got to star with younger, attractive leading men without much question.

[charliechaplinfan]

The only Bond's I enjoy are Sean Connery's, he is the only one that brings the danger to the role. Some might say that of the current Bond, my husband swears he is the closest thing to what a secret agent might be and thinks these current Bond's are the best. He might be right but for me he misses the point. Bond is a romantic and dangerous creation set of the 1960's, surrounded by 1960's fashions and kitsch and most importantly moulded into an on screen persona rather than a literary creation by Sean Connery. Sean Connery as Bond is dangerous and unpredictable, he's as much for women as for men and for me he's far more to look at than all the others. Sean is the best Bond for me.

Perhaps in my mind he is stereotyped for I have only enjoyed him in one other film, Marnie. These days I chose not to watch his work because of aspects of his personality, I always make exception for his Bond's.

[Lzcutter]

Growing up, I loved Sean Connery. Like Moira, I discovered him in Darby O'Gill and the Little People.

But I wasn't a big fan of James Bond films, even with Connery. It was only when he retired from Bond that I thought he turned a corner and became a better actor. He had a terrific run of films in the 1970s including The Wind and the Lion and Robin and Marianbut most of all, The Man Who Would Be King.

I still think he is a terrific actor. Since marrying Mr. Cutter, I have come to really appreciate the 1960s, Bond films with Connery (as well as On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

We both really like Daniel Craig as Bond in the recent reboot of the franchise, though we prefer his Casino Royale over Quantum of Solace. He's the first Bond since Connery that we have felt really comes with that edgy, "he could kill you if he wanted" quality to the character.

A good friend gave us Blu-Rays of the first set of Bond Films for Christmas and we spent the holidays watching them. Mr. Cutter liked the intrigue and I was loving all the mid-century modern architecture and sets.

[MichiganJ]

Well, Connery is Bond, isn't he? Goldfinger is still the best Bond film, but I also really like Never Say Never Again, Connery's re-working of Thunderball, but as an "aged" Bond.

Lazenby's go was an okay film, but he was too stiff and Diana Rigg was too strong an actress and Lazenby just couldn't stand up. Her death scene deserved a better actor.

Roger Moore was the perfect Bond for the goofy 70s. Who else could be in Moonraker and facing Jawz Part 2? His best film was For Your Eyes Only. (At least he was on Earth!) Oh, Moore's debut also features the best theme song: Live and Let Die. (For a truly great action film with Moore check out ffolks.)

I'm the only person who liked Timothy Dalton. Both his Bonds are good, but I really like License to Kill. For a Bond, it has a relatively "believable" plot (at least a motive) and the semi-trailor chase sequence at the end is pretty great. (Dalton plays a great bad guy in The Rocketeer--and underrated gem)

My wife is in love with Pierce Brosnan so I'll just say Tomorrow Never Dies, because of Michelle Yeoh. (Finally, a Bond "girl" who really could kick butt!)

Loved Casino Royal and the new direction of the series. It does need to lighten up some, though. (You'd think megalomaniacs were trying to take over the world or something.)

[charliechaplinfan]

You're not the only one who likes Timothy Dalton, I do too but I thought I was in a minority. A thoroughly underrated actor, who I could believe would be dangerous when cornered.

Pierce Brosnan was overwhelmed by gadgets, car and silly chases and not enough plot. A pity because he's a decent actor.

Never watched George Lazenby and had Roger Moore stuffed down my throat when I was a child. I remember when a Bond film on TV was an event that made my Mum come and watch television, pity she liked Roger and not Sean.

[knitwit45]

Add me to the chorus! I really liked Timothy Dalton as Bond, but the best ever role he did (for me anyway) was as Rochester in an A&E production of Jane Eyre. The "small, plain girl" was Zelah Clarke, and there has never been a better Jane!

[movieman1957]

I'm the only person who liked Timothy Dalton. Both his Bonds are good, but I really like License to Kill. For a Bond, it has a relatively "believable" plot (at least a motive) and the semi-trailor chase sequence at the end is pretty great.

I like Dalton too. I like "The Living Daylights" better but I think it was a successful attempt to get Bond's attitude back. I like the opening sequence in Gibraltar.

I can take all of them for what they are. About the only one I can't watch is "Moonraker." I'm not much of a fan of "The Man With The Golden Gun" or "Live and Let Die." "Die Another Day" is a bit too gimmicky for me. I do enjoy the franchise though.

[MissGoddess]

I just had friends over and I played From Russia with Love and Her Majesty's Seceret Service for them.

They loved FRWL and laughed at poor George in HMSS. It's true, he has the personality of a cardboard box. No wonder he never made it. The thing is, in almost any other movie he'd probably be just fine, but to play Bond, baby, you have to be really out of the ordinary.

[CineMaven]

For me there is only ONE Bond, but there are others I’ll accept. But you do understand, there is only one.

”We both really like Daniel Craig as Bond in the recent reboot of the franchise, though we prefer his ‘Casino Royale’ over ‘Quantum of Solace’.” - lzcutter.

When Craig fought on the staircase and sat in the shower with Vesper, I believed him. When Craig was laid up in the sanitarium and professes his love for Vesper, I believed him. When he jumps into the drink to try and save Vesper from drowning in the elevator, I believed him. When he said "the b*tch is dead!” I believed him. By the end of “Casino Royale” with Craig’s Bond shooting the bad guy in the leg and standing over him saying “Bond, James Bond” I said to myself...Daniel Craig IS James Bond. And having Dame Judi Dench as "M" was a genius stroke of casting. I wish she had worked opposite Sean Connery.

”Lazenby's go was an okay film, but he was too stiff and Diana Rigg was too strong an actress and Lazenby just couldn't stand up. Her death scene deserved a better actor.” - Michiganj.

You are so right. Diana Rigg is a great actress. Wish she had a better film career, but I’ve always liked her. And I agree, her death scene was wasted on the wooden-headed Ashley Wilkes.

”I'm the only person who liked Timothy Dalton. Both his Bonds are good, but I really like ‘License to Kill.’ For a Bond, it has a relatively "believable" plot (at least a motive) and the semi-trailor chase sequence at the end is pretty great.” - Michiganj.

Put me in the club with yourself Michigan AND with Knitwit, Movieman1957, CharlieChaplinfan. I thought Timothy Dalton did a good job. Handsome and dangerous-looking.

”Pierce Brosnan was overwhelmed by gadgets, car and silly chases and not enough plot. A pity because he's a decent actor.” - charliechaplinfan.

That may be true...but he was so darned pretty as Bond. And he got to kiss Halle Berry. He did have to step up his game acting opposite Dame Judi Dench.

Soooooo....they call him Cardboard Box Earhart, ey Miss Goddess???

[MissGoddess]

The Marvelous Maven Wrote: Soooooo....they call him Cardboard Box Earhart, ey Miss Goddess???

Actually, the descriptive word that most frequently came up was "idiotic", lol! Poor George. It was a tough audience.

[Ollie]

I've like the first films of all of the subsequent Bonds. "Prefer" might be the correct term - each of their first efforts seemed good in comparison. Or in George's turn, his could be a favorite tale among all of them. (Or is that a Diana Rigg prejudice appearing? Oh well...) I liked Dalton's Bond films and because he was able to pull off a number of other films in the midst of his Bond appointment. As did Brosnan, which had most of the correct attributes except I complained he wasn't big enough - but that's because I remember Doris Roberts decking him in REMINGTON STEELE in an episode or two. There's just NO WAY James Bond has ever been knocked for a loop by any secretary not named Moneypenny.

(And while I know I'd certainly notice completely naked babes with "Ms Moneypenny" across their desks, there remains no way to distract my attention from the fact that none of them will ever match Lois.)

[charliechaplinfan]

Add me to the chorus! I really liked Timothy Dalton as Bond, but the best ever role he did (for me anyway) was as Rochester in an A&E production of Jane Eyre. The "small, plain girl" was Zelah Clarke, and there has never been a better Jane!

I completely agree

Was he handsome or what

[stuart.uk]

My favorite 6 Bond's are

The Spy Who Loved Me
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
License To Kill
Die Another Day
Octupussy
For Your Eyes Only

No Connery Bond's there. I admit I had a soft spot for Roger, as I'd been a fan of his in Ivanhoe, The Saint and The Persuaders, before her he became Bond. In contrast UK didn't get permission to show Dr. No and the other previous Bond's until the early 70s. While I accept Sean was great in those films, especially From Russia With Love and Goldfinger, I also feel their dare I say quite dated with the first couple almost a throwback to the 1950s, for example Connery's Bond wears a soft hat a lot in the early films. I know it's not relevant as to who the better Bond of the two were, but Roger's Octupussy was IMO a far better film than Sean's Never Say Never, both made in the same yr.

One of the things I didn't like about Sean's Diamonds Are Forever was while he was hunting down Blofeld, there was no mention of the fact the villain killed his wife Tracy in the previous film. In fact it was if it never happened. In contrast one of the things I liked about Roger's The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only and Tim's License To Kill, Bond is seen as a grieving widower. I sometimes use that as an excuse to explain his shall we say short term relationships.

I think The Spy Who Loved Me was an important film in the Bond series, as there was an introduction of new regular characters, Geoffrey Keen's Minister Of Defence, Walter Gotlel's head of the KGB and Robert Brown's Admiral Hargreaves, who would eventually become M

Daniel Craig I think is physically the best James Bond with his own stunts impressive, but I think for the moment at any rate the others created a better persona. To be fair to him though, how do you introduce a new character, as his Bond was in Casino Royale was a prequel to all the previous ones. I also think the highlights of CR were the ones with Dame Judi Dench, who only had a few scenes.

I think Timothy Dalton to me almost portrayed Bond as a working class secret agent and that in Licensed To Kill he was allowed to rebel against his bosses at TSS, in what was basically a good revenge movie.

One common link in my 6 Bond's is the action heroine. In Bond films, right up to the Pierce Brosnan movies, there seemed to be an alteration between damsels in distress and the action heroine. You could argue the case for both sides for Ursula Andress in Dr. No, while the actress in FRWL was a damsel. Honor Blackman, though was clearly a woman of action as she was in The Avengers. Diana Rigg at the beginning of OHMSS was a spoiled brat, but as the story progress she turned into an Emma Peel like character, she played in The Avengers. OHMSS also saw a sympathisation of Bond with George Lazenby falling in love with Rigg, becoming a widower at the end. In my other films mentioned action heroines included Barbara Bach, Maud Adams, Halley Berry and Roasmund Pike.

[Lzcutter]

From the giant Hertz rent a car neon cowboy sign to the Alpine Village to the flying saucer shaped Convention Center to downtown Fremont Street - Glitter Gulch without that damned canopy- it was the Las Vegas I grew up with.

I love Diamonds Are Forever because it captured on film my hometown the way so many of us remember it (and still wish it was today). Added bonus is the mid-century modern house in Palm Springs where they find Willard White.

The Union Plaza at the end of Fremont Street was still under construction and had been built on the former train depot.

The scene where Connery drives up west up Flamingo Ave (with the Dunes sign in the foreground) and nothing but desert. That was Las Vegas.

The sheriff in the car chase downtown was Darwin Lamb, brother of the then Sheriff, Ralph Lamb.

As for traffic, Vegas now has 2 million people living there and they all seem to be on the roads at the same time.