Best Agent 007 Ever: How Many James Bond Films With Sean Connery Are There?
Not every one of these movies may be brilliant, but in every one of them, Connery is the main reason to watch it.
Ian Fleming, author of the Bond books, initially rejected Sean Connery's candidacy, doubting that the Scot could transform into an English gentleman. The author softened a bit after meeting the actor in person over lunch.
It was only after the triumphant premiere of Dr. No that the author finally abandoned his skepticism and was so impressed by Connery that he gave his character Scottish origins.
After that, the actor went on to play the iconic secret agent six more times.
1. Dr. No, 1962
The first film is called the best for a reason: it is the perfect introduction to the character, the charming spy James Bond, who has not yet become a superhero, for whom saving the world is an ordinary Tuesday. In Dr. No, Bond has no gadgets, so when he sits down at the same table with the villain, he uses only his best qualities – a developed intellect and a sharp tongue.
The first film in the saga became a success thanks to a mixture of a number of aspects: the charming Sean Connery in the leading role, the main score that immediately became a classic and one of the best Bond girls played by Ursula Andress.
2. From Russia with Love, 1963
This time James Bond must get a Russian girl out of Istanbul who knows the code to the latest data transmission device. An agent of the criminal organization Spectre tries to stop him. With his actions, he wants to cause an international conflict and worsen the relations between Great Britain and the USSR.
At the end of the book of the same name, Ian Fleming hinted that Bond was killed. However, a year later he came back to life in the next novel. But when the movie came out, some viewers were seriously worried that this might be the end of everyone's favorite Bond, played by Sean Connery.
3. Goldfinger, 1964
In the third movie, Agent 007 must stop the villain, the rich man Auric Goldfinger. He plans to destroy the entire US gold reserve by detonating a radioactive bomb in the vault.
Goldfinger is often considered the best movie in the franchise, and for good reason. It was here that the franchise finally found its style – incredible gadgets, charismatic villains, complex plots with intrigue and double agents.
4. Thunderball, 1965
The fourth James Bond film follows terrorists from the organization Spectre who hijack a bomber with two nuclear bombs on board. They threaten to detonate the bombs unless the British government delivers 100 million pounds worth of diamonds to them.
After the box office success of the third film, it was decided to make a sequel as a matter of urgency. As a result, Thunderball became one of the most popular Bond films and won an Oscar for best Visual Effects.
5. You Only Live Twice, 1967
The fifth Bond film was the first to depart from the canonical text of Ian Fleming's novels, and Sean Connery reprised the role of the invulnerable Briton for the penultimate time.
This time, Spectre is attempting to pit the world's most powerful nations against each other, provoking the start of a nuclear war. Only moments remain before the complete destruction of life on Earth.
Their only hope is James Bond, who races to stop the real culprit, Ernst Blofeld, a global agitator and provocateur. Agent 007 and the ninjas of the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop him before nuclear war breaks out.
6. Diamonds Are Forever, 1971
This time James Bond is tasked with investigating the theft of a huge shipment of diamonds. While solving this difficult case, Bond finds himself on the trail of his enemy Blofeld.
When Sean Connery announced his "retirement" from the role of 007 after You Only Live Twice, the film company found itself in a difficult situation – producer Albert Broccoli was forced to cast the unknown George Lazenby as Bond.
Lazenby starred in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but the movie did not live up to the producers' expectations and they turned to Connery again. The actor seized the opportunity – he negotiated a fee of one and a half million and 12% of the film's box office receipts to replace Lazenby in Diamonds Are Forever.
7. Never Say Never Again, 1983
The last movie with Connery, this time not official, i.e. not made by Eon Productions – this film is not even included in the general canon. Never Say Never Again (the title is an ironic reference to Connery, who in fact promised not to return to the franchise) is not a great movie, but it is memorable for its comedic atmosphere.
During another training session, Agent 007 does not show himself in the best light, and his boss sends him to a health resort. Of course, no one will let Bond have a normal rest: at the resort some intrigues unfold around one of the patients, a high-ranking officer.