James Bond: The Sean Connery Years (1962-1983)

In 1953 author Ian Fleming created one of the most well-known literary characters in history, a British Secret Service Agent whose exploits in twelve books and two collections of short stories have since been eclipsed by his cinematic achievements in what is currently the longest ongoing film franchise. The road to movie legendary status had a little rocky start, with the adaptation of his first novel Casino Royale being made into a one-hour television adventure show starring Barry Nelson, but in 1962 Harry Saltzman and American Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli released the first of the Eon Productions Bond films and the life of agent 007 would never be the same.

When it came to casting such an iconic role Saltzman and Broccoli pulled out all stops to find the perfect James Bond and with names like Cary Grant, Patrick McGoohan and David Niven were bandied about it was clear they meant business – a contest to win the part of James Bond being a publicity stunt meant there was also some funny business – but eventually the settled on a Scottish actor who most would have known for starring in Disney’s Darby O’Gill and the Little People, now, it may seem that a singing Scott who talked to leprechauns was a strange casting choice but Connery’s devil-may-care attitude was just what they were looking for and he most certainly proved them right. Below you will find my collection of reviews for Sean Connery’s seven-film tenure as James Bond, simply click on a poster or the links below to enter the world of Bond, James Bond.

Dr. No (1962)

British agent James Bond must thwart the villainous Dr. No and his plot to disrupt the American space program in Connery’s first outing as the world’s best secret agent.

From Russia with Love (1963)

With the help of a beautiful Russian girl James Bond faces off against SPECTRE agents in a plot to retrieve a valuable Russian decoding device.

Goldfinger (1964)

James Bond must stop the diabolical plan of a mad man who is obsessed with gold and plans to irradiate Fort Knox.

Thunderball (1965)

In this undersea adventure James Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover stolen nuclear bombs from agents of SPECTRE.

You Only Live Twice (1967)

Bond is sent to work with the Japanese Secret Service to uncover who is stealing American and Soviet spacecraft.

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Sean Connery returns as James Bond to uncover a diamond smuggling plot that leads him to Blofeld and a plot to hold the world hostage.

Never Say Never Again (1983)

In this remake of Thunderball Sean Connery returns as ageing agent James Bond who must stop SPECTRE’s plot to blackmail NATO.

There have been many actors since Connery donned his Walter PPK to play the iconic role of James Bond and though the debate over who is the best Bond still rages on without Sean Connery leading the charge this franchise may have fizzled out long before the likes of Roger Moore or Daniel Craig ever got their shot at it, and no one can argue that from almost frame one Sean Connery solidified James Bond as one of the coolest characters in cinema history.

You can check out my reviews for the Bond films of the Roger Moore era here: James Bond: The Roger Moore Years (1973-1985)