Die Another Day

Forty years ago in London’s Pavilion Theatre, one lucky movie audience witnessed the beginning of a dynasty. Nobody could have known it at the time, though, that the little movie that premiered the night of Oct. 6, 1962, Dr. No, was the start of something huge.

Who would have guessed that the movie career of James Bond, secret agent 007, would be thriving four decades and five actors later?

Not his creator, Ian Fleming, who would see only one more Bond movie before his death in 1964.

Not his producers, Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, even though they had the foresight to negotiate with Fleming a clause that allowed them to invent their own stories and titles once the supply of his Bond books was exhausted.

Not the star, Sean Connery, who got the role because the producers admired his machismo even though Fleming thought the actor too low-class to play his suave creation (Connery won Fleming over during production).

Certainly not the studio, United Artists. Executives were so convinced American audiences wouldn’t care about a British spy that Bond’s U.S. movie debut was delayed until May 1963. Originally, Dr. No was to be dumped into Texas drive-ins, but because the Fleming novels had started to climb the bestseller charts (helped by a plug from President John F. Kennedy) the movie got a decent-sized release, though with little fanfare.

Dr. No made a profit in America, but that didn’t yet matter. Broccoli, Saltzman and Connery already were filming the second Bond movie, From Russia With Love, in Istanbul. Its success would establish Bond as a worldwide hero.

The third film, Goldfinger, elevated Bond to blockbuster status. Goldfinger began a wave of merchandising that rivals what would happen with Star Wars more than a decade later. Bond products were even more ubiquitous. Did Yoda have his own brand of vodka? Did Han Solo have his own line of menswear?

Connery did six Bond movies (seven if you count the rival production Never Say Never Again, but I would rather not). He was followed by George Lazenby (one movie), Roger Moore (seven movies), Timothy Dalton (two movies) and Pierce Brosnan (four movies and counting).

Bond has had his lulls since the 1960s, but the 007 series remains the most venerable and successful in film history. And it just keeps going. Bond officially enters his fourth decade (and second century) when Brosnan’s upcoming Die Another Day–the series’ 20th entry–opens Nov. 22. (Nov. 27 in the Philippines.)

Over the years this Bond fan has written many stories reviewing the series’ history. Rather than write another one to mark Bond’s 40th anniversary, I decided to try something more fun.

Taking a cue from High Fidelity, I came up with a series of top five lists based on 40 years of Bond history and trivia.

These lists are based solely on my opinion, and other Bond fans will gnash their teeth as they read them. Moore and Dalton are my favorite Bonds, so I’ve known for years my views are in the minority.

But what’s the point of being a Bond fan if you can’t be adventurous?

The five best James Bond women

1. Tracy di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service;

2. Anya Amasova (Babara Bach), The Spy Who Loved Me;

3. Honey Rider (Ursula Andress), Dr. No;

4. Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), GoldenEye;

5. Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet), For Your Eyes Only.

The five best James Bond villains

1. Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe), Goldfinger;

2. Red Grant (Robert Shaw), From Russia With Love;

3. Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), From Russia With Love;

4. Dr. Julius No (Joseph Wiseman), Dr. No;

5. Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), The Man With the Golden Gun.

The five best theme songs

1. "Nobody Does it Better" by Carly Simon, The Spy Who Loved Me;

2. "For Your Eyes Only" by Sheena Easton;

3. "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and Wings;

4. "Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey;

5. "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service" by John Barry (instrumental)

Five actors who almost played Bond

1. Cary Grant (who turned down the request of his friend, Bond producer Cubby Broccoli);

2. John Gavin (who was signed for Diamonds Are Forever, but lost the part when Sean Connery was lured back);

3. Burt Reynolds (United Artists executives wanted him for Live and Let Die, but producers Broccoli and Saltzman insisted Bond be British and hired Roger Moore);

4. James Brolin (who screen-tested for Octopussy before Moore renewed his contract);

5. Sam Neill (everyone else on the production team was ready to cast him in The Living Daylights, but Broccoli had the final word; he picked Timothy Dalton).