Global James Bond Day 2022 celebrated around the world
By: Anders Frejdh
Published:
2022-10-05
Today is Global James Bond Day – an annual celebration of the 007 franchise held on October 5th – the date of the World Premiere of the first James Bond film, Dr. No, in 1962.
In 1961, American producer
Albert R. ‘Cubby’ Broccoli wanted to bring
Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels to the screen. Teaming up with Canadian producer
Harry Saltzman, who had optioned the rights to the series, Broccoli landed the financing from United Artists, raising $1 million to bring 007 to the screen.
Initially Broccoli and Saltzman wanted
Thunderball (1965) to be the first Bond adventure. When their intention was scuppered by copyright issues, they turned to Dr. No, the sixth Fleming novel that featured a topical story (the space race) and plenty of action, all set in a dazzling tropical location. To direct the picture, the producers chose
Terence Young, a filmmaker Broccoli knew could bring the elegance, style and panache that were hallmarks of the character.
To adapt the screenplay, the team selected
Wolf Mankowitz, who initially introduced Broccoli to Saltzman, and
Richard Maibaum who had penned Broccoli’s first big hit
The Red Beret (1953) alongside
Johanna Harwood and
Berkely Mather.
The final screenplay cleaved closer to Fleming. James Bond (
Sean Connery) is sent to Jamaica to investigate the suspected murder of a fellow agent. Bond, with the help of CIA operative Felix Leiter (
Jack Lord) and islander Quarrel (
John Kitzmuller), follows a trail that leads him to scientist Dr. No (
Joseph Wiseman). Landing on Dr. No’s private island, Crab Key, Bond encounters sea-shell collector Honey Ryder. The pair are captured by Dr. No’s private army and Bond learns of the scientist’s plan to destroy the US space program as a first step towards world domination. Bond outwits Dr. No, knocking him into a nuclear reactor pool, and rescues Honey before the island explodes.
The biggest question revolved around the casting of James Bond. The producers considered casting big names such as
Richard Burton,
James Mason and
Cary Grant (the best man at Broccoli’s wedding). When Mason and Grant refused to sign up to multi-picture deals, Broccoli and Saltzman sought an unknown, discovering a young exciting Scottish actor named Sean Connery. It took Terence Young, who had worked with Connery on
Action Of The Tiger (1957), to school the actor in the ways of sharp suits, expensive food and fine wines. The role ultimately fit Connery like a glove.
For Honey Ryder, the producers cast Swiss actress
Ursula Andress, who took the role at the prompting of her husband
John Derek. To play the title role of Dr. No, Ian Fleming himself suggested friend and playwright
Noel Coward. Coward sent a typically witty response by telegram: “Dear Ian, the answer to Dr. No is No! No! No!” The producers finally cast New York stage actor Joseph Wiseman.
Filming began in Jamaica on 16th January 1962 before moving to
Pinewood Studios to shoot interiors. From
Maurice Binder’s title sequence to
Ken Adam’s sets to
Monty Norman’s theme arranged by
John Barry, the film established many of the elements now associated with the series. Equally ground-breaking was the film’s sense of pace and action. “The secret of the James Bond fights is that they are dramatic but are never real enough to be violently sickening,” said stunt arranger
Bob Simmons.
Dr. No opened in England on 5th October 1962 to huge critical praise and box office success. A new cinematic hero was born. The 5th October now marks, ‘James Bond Day’.
For the latest official announcements on No Time To Die, visit the official website.
Tags:
#eon_productions
#james_bond_day
#monty_norman
#news
#sean_connery