With those three words, one of the world’s greatest movie franchises was launched – on October 5, 1962!
The world’s great Secret Agent has stayed popular for more than five decades, with six different Actors putting on the tuxedo…but no one will ever be more iconic that the first Bond – Sean Connery…
Let’s begin the celebration with the original trailer, which introduced movie audiences to the coolest secret agent of all time:
Look at this shot: Producer Cubby Broccoli, Sean Connery, 007 Creator/Author Ian Fleming, and Producer Harry Saltzman…I wonder if they could have imagined what was ahead!
So how did Connery get cast?
According to wikipedia, Producers Broccoli and Saltzman originally sought Cary Grant for the role! However, Grant wouldn’t agree to more than one, so they held auditions and landed on the very virile Sean Connery, who had the looks And the rough edges they were looking for!
This terrific archive photo is from James Bond 007 magazine, which is full of incredible trivia about 007!
On Oct. 5 1962, “Dr. No” had its worldwide premiere at the London Pavilion. However, in those days films opened over the course of months, so it didn’t actually hit the US until six months later, in May 1963.
In the UK, “Dr. No” ended up as the fifth most popular movie of 1962. The final worldwide grows was $59.6 million worldwide.
Of course, the series also introduced an iconic opening sequence with the rifle scope, as Bond walks into frame and then shoots the audience…
Here is some trivia: “Dr. No” currently has a 96% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, and is considered a great introduction of the character – as one review stated:
“Featuring plenty of the humor, action, and escapist thrills the series would become known for, Dr. No kicks off the Bond franchise in style.”
Of course, it also offered one other popular choice:
The Iconic “Bond Girls!”
That’s right, the very first Bond film offered up an iconic “Bond girl” Honey Ryder, played by sex kitten Ursula Andress.
In 2003, the scene of her emerging from the water in a bikini topped England Channel 4’s list of one hundred sexiest scenes of film history!
Oh, and did you know that her nickname was “Ursula UNDRESS?”
Andress was the first of many incredible “Bond Girls” who have starred alongside 007, here is more about this iconic sex kitten, including that notorious nickname:
Iconic is the only word. There have been sparkling jewels and less glittering moments but Bond is embedded in hearts and minds in an extraordinary way and that is an astounding achievement
Perfectly stated. I have posted on “best” and “worst” Bond films, songs, Bond girls and BOND himself, but really, they are all Bond and as a franchise it has entertained us so much – thanks for your comment!
I was 10 years old, and taken to the cinema by my parents to see this. I think it had an ‘A’ rating back then, which meant you had to be accompanied by an adult, if you were under 18. It was something very fresh and different at the time. Exotic locations, glamorous people, and witty suggestive banter in the script. The Bond franchise never endured for me, mainly because it has stayed pretty much the same ever since.
My take on it is ‘seen one, seen them all’.
Best wishes, Pete.
Pete, I am a Bond fan but admit the quality is “variable” to say the least…for every good on that tries to tell a good story, there were many that coasted on the “beats” that fans supposedly wanted…great memory, thanks for sharing!
johnrieber 
Iconic is the only word. There have been sparkling jewels and less glittering moments but Bond is embedded in hearts and minds in an extraordinary way and that is an astounding achievement
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfectly stated. I have posted on “best” and “worst” Bond films, songs, Bond girls and BOND himself, but really, they are all Bond and as a franchise it has entertained us so much – thanks for your comment!
LikeLike
I was 10 years old, and taken to the cinema by my parents to see this. I think it had an ‘A’ rating back then, which meant you had to be accompanied by an adult, if you were under 18. It was something very fresh and different at the time. Exotic locations, glamorous people, and witty suggestive banter in the script. The Bond franchise never endured for me, mainly because it has stayed pretty much the same ever since.
My take on it is ‘seen one, seen them all’.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pete, I am a Bond fan but admit the quality is “variable” to say the least…for every good on that tries to tell a good story, there were many that coasted on the “beats” that fans supposedly wanted…great memory, thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person