1962 is among the most significant years in modern history. Cuban Missile Crisis drove world to brink of war, the Oral Polio Vaccine developed by Albert Sabin save millions of lives, the legendary Marilyn Monroe was found dead, and the big screen was introduced to a new hero.
What an introduction it was.
Having lost a few hands at Baccarat, the bewitching Sylvia Trench proposes raising the stakes.
"I admire your courage, Miss?" responds an unseen man dressed in a black tuxedo.
"Trench, Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr.?" answers Sylvia.
'Bond, James Bond,' he replies tersely, as he flips open a gold lighter to illuminate a cigarette dangling from his lips.
The moment made cinematic history and catapulted Sean Connery to superstardom.
Connery’s brilliant performances and unique onscreen charisma defined Bond and made him the iconic superhero who is still loved by audiences worldwide.
On the 92nd anniversary of Sir Sean Connery Birth, the following is an attempt to rank all of his Bond movies devoid of spoilers.
Never Say Never Again
Connery returned as Bond, nearly two decades since he first took on the role in this second adaptation of the novel Thunderball.
This wasn’t part of the official Bond series, hence it already had the disadvantage of lacking standard elements such as the Bond theme, the opening gun barrel sequence, and the beloved supporting cast absent.
Connery had complained about the domination of technical wizardry in the Roger Moore Bond films. This was an opportunity to be more plot-driven like his earlier films, perhaps even explore the fact that 007 was aging while retaining the elements of humor, action, and adventure.
Alas, the makers opted for the safer route and followed the lightheartedness of the Moore era.
This was an enjoyable film that obviously lacked the gravitas of Connery’s earlier Bond pictures and on occasions seemed like an unintended parody.
Despite the break, Connery was in fine form taking on international criminal organizations and amorous Bond girls with equal aplomb while acknowledging his advancing age with good humor.
You Only Live Twice
This formula that made Bond a success was established. This result was majestic sets, car chases, aerial chases, and Bond becoming Japanese.
The film was good fun, but the freshness and the ingenuity of the early films were lacking.
Donald Pleasance did well as the sinister Ernst Stavro Blofeld, his bald-headed scar-faced look was lampooned as Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers films
Despite the script not presenting him with anything new, Connery who by this time in the series, had relaxed into the role and did remarkably well.
Diamonds Are Forever
This was Connery’s last film in the official Bond series. It was the 70s and the cold war was no longer a threat it was during the 60s. The result was the Bond films became more lighthearted and bordering comical.
The magnificent Charles Gray who played Bond ally Henderson in You Only Lives Twice now played Blofeld. Blofeld who in the previous films spoke in a non-specific sinister European accent, however, Gray's Blofeld spoke in a perfect English accent. It was hard to think of him as an adversary of the west. But the film never took itself too seriously and neither should the audience.
The film had some amusing action sequences such as Bond driving a moon buggy while being chased across a desert or Bond flipping his Mustang up on two wheels while being chased on the roads of Las Vegas.
The film is good fun and Connery packed a solid punch as Bond, once again, despite not being in the prime physical form he was during the 60s.
Goldfinger
Goldfinger was the first Bond film to be filmed in the US.
It was the third in the series and was made on a much grander scale than its predecessors.
The results were remarkable, almost every aspect of Goldfinger became iconic. It became a worldwide blockbuster while Bond became a true cultural phenomenon
It established the formula for the Bond films, with megalomaniac villains, spectacular stunts, majestic sets, beautiful Bond girls with risqué names, gadgets, guns, and humor.
Gert Frobe was terrific the sinister Auric Goldfinger while the lovely Honor Blackman did well as Pussy Galore.
At the center was Connery delivered superbly balancing the intelligence, the ruthlessnes and the humor of 007.
Thunderball
This is the highest-grossing Bond film of all time if adjusted for inflation.
SPECTRE holds NATO to ransom with two hijacked atomic bombs and only Bond can save the day.
The film had it all, exotic and picturesque beaches of the Bahamas, Adolfo Celi's eyepatch-sporting villain Emilio Largo, and two terrific female leads in Claudine Auger and Luciana Paluzzi.
Connery was in top form mixing up the dark and the light impeccably.
Dr. No
This was the very first Bond film.
The lack of a big budget meant the sets were not as majestic, the gadgets were as inventive and the action set pieces weren’t as elaborate.
This worked to the film's advantage, Bond had to rely on his wits. skills as a detective and his fists to outmaneuver the sinister Doctor No.
The result was a wittier, darker, and more plot-driven film.
The lovely Ursula Andress was delightful as Honey Ryder, the first one-screen Bond girl.
From Russia with Love
The isn't just Connery's best Bond film but the best in the entire series.
The plot of SPECTRE setting MI6 and KGB against each other to steal a decoding device was clever.
The film has many iconic sequences such as the fight in the tribal setup of Turkey, the fist fight between Bond and SPECTRE henchman Red Grant on a train, and Bond's nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld was first introduced on the big screen, however, we didn’t see his face only his voice and his hands petting a white blue-eyed Turkish Angora. Bond's ally Kerim Bey was spirited and colorful.
Sean Connery delivered his best performance in the series. He is ruthless, uncompromising, focused yet sensitive.
Note
If you have not seen these films, what are you waiting for.
If you have, do leave your rankings in the comments.
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