0070 Things You Never Knew About James Bond

18-11-2006 08:15

In 1962 Sean Connery brought the spy thriller novels of Ian Fleming to life with his role as secret service agent James Bond in 'Dr. No'.

On a budget of just $1,000,000, the lowest of any Bond movie, the film grossed $59,600,000 at the box office and began an ever expanding legacy.

The handsome spy who could win over any lady, take down any henchman, order a martini in only the way 007 can and save the world without ever getting out of breath soon became a household name.

He strolled onto the big screen and announced himself, "Bond, James Bond" with effortless cool and soon people were eagerly awaiting the next instalment of life threatening situations, extraordinary gadgets and ludicrously named women.

But where did Ian Fleming get the idea for James Bond, how did he choose Sean Connery as the first man to play him in the films, who was the one woman to get Bond down the aisle and how did the famous catchphrases we all know so well come into existence?

Here are 0070 things you never new about the super spy...

1. Ian Fleming got the name James Bond from one of his favourite books, 'Birds of the West Indies'. Fleming said he wanted "a really flat, quiet name" and James Bond fitted the bill.

2. Bond author Ian Fleming was initially sceptical about Sean Connery playing the role in the first film, 'Dr. No' in 1962, and dismissed him as an "overgrown stuntman".

3. But Fleming ended up liking Connery's performance so much he added a background to the character in his novels to make 007 Scottish by saying Bond's father was a Scotsman.

4. The first time that James Bond sports a beard in a James Bond movie is in 'Die Another Day'. Pierce Brosnan is shown having more than just a few day's growth after being held captive for months. The closest shave to prior to this was the James Bond send-up 'OK Connery' (1967) where Sean Connery's brother Neil Connery had a beard spoofing his brother's James Bond image.

5. Stuntman Bob Simmons was the man silhouetted in the 'gun barrel sequence' which starts the first three Bond films. He was a stunt double for Sean Connery and stayed with the franchise in various stunt capacities until 'A View to a Kill' in 1985. He died in 1988.

6. Bond began the tradition of introducing himself as "Bond. James Bond" when he sat down at a card table in 'Dr. No' because a woman introduces herself as "Trench. Sylvia Trench" and he replied in the same way.

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