“Dr. No” was released in 1962, kicking off the most enduring franchise in movie history. James Bond quickly became an iconic character as the film producers developed and stuck with a reliable formula that featured beautiful babes, futuristic gadgets, hot sports cars, strange villains and exotic locations. Bond has enjoyed countless adventures over the years, all the while enjoying his “shaken, not stirred” martinis all over the world.
Bob Westal summed up the allure of this character and franchise nicely as he started his look back at these films:
The girls, the gadgets, the stylish violence and absurd deeds of derring-do… It’s no wonder that the handsome and ruthlessly heroic James Bond has been an icon of masculine wish fulfillment and feminine desire for 50 years. Harry Potter and “Twilight” films might sell more tickets at the moment, but Bond belongs to an elite group of internationally popular, impossible to kill, long-running heroes.
One thing that distinguishes Bond from your Superman, Batman and Sherlock Holmes types is that, with three quirky exceptions, the Bond character has been exclusively handled by the same small, family-owned production company which has maintained a tight creative grip on the franchise since the very first Bond movie. This has led to a remarkable degree of consistency, which can be a mixed blessing.
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JAMES BOND FILMS – ONE BY ONE
“Dr. No” (1962)
This one kicked off the Bond sensation as the producers discovered Sean Connery, and the rest is history.
“From Russia with Love” (1963)
This James Bond flick is considered by many critics and fans as the best in the series, based on Ian Fleming’s most acclaimed spy novel. All of us don’t agree on this, but this one has its fanboys.
“Goldfinger” (1963)
The third Bond film is more than one of the most enduringly popular movies in the series, it’s the template for James Bond movies from that point forward. In fact, it’s fair to argue that it actually set the pattern for actions films for years to come. It was also arguably the first modern-day blockbuster in that it was intended as an event as well a movie — complete with mega-bucks generating merchandizing opportunities.
“Thunderball” (1965)
Critics and filmmakers may prefer “From Russia With Love” and “Goldfinger,” and many complain about those long underwater sequences but, to a lot of fans, Bond #4 remains the ultimate in spy action, intrigue, gadgets, and girls, girls, girls. It also remains the all-time box office record holder of all the Bonds. It’s also only the second, and so far final, Bond film to ever win an Oscar — for special effects of course.
“You Only Live Twice” (1967)
As the worldwide spy craze peaks, the James Bond series settles in for the long, tongue-in-cheek haul with this often maligned but very enjoyable entry, introducing the world to both ninjas and the original Dr. Evil. It also might have been the final appearance of Sean Connery as 007, except that it wasn’t.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
George Lazenby takes over the Bond role in a film that many 007 afficionados love.
“Diamonds are Forever” (1971)
It’s Vegas, baby, for James Bond, and he’s played by Sean Connery for the last time (until 1983). The jokiest and the most violent of the Bond films up to that point, it’s no one’s favorite 007 entry – and it’s a lot of people’s least favorite – but we still think it’s got way more panache than many of the films that followed. It’s…
“Live and Let Die” (1973)
Pimpmobiles. Alligators. A trip through Harlem. Voodoo. Cigars. Blaxploitation. George Martin. Bourbon and water. Tarot Cards. Snakes. The City of New Orleans. Paul McCartney and Wings.
