The First James Bond

 

James Bond is a fictional character originally created by writer Ian Fleming, who featured Bond in twelve novels and two collections of short stories. After his death in 1964, James Bond books have been written by Kingsley Amis (using the name Robert Markham), John Pearson, John Gardner and Raymond Benson. More than 21 movies had been released which feature James Bond. But who was the first James Bond? This article will answer your question and also look at four interesting facts about James Bond.

Who was the first James Bond
Many people often incorrectly say that Sean Connery was the first James Bond. It is true he was played James Bond in Dr No, which was the first James Bond film produced by EON productions (who have produced all but two James Bond films). Dr No, however, was not the first production to feature James Bond. In 1954, CBS paid Ian Fleming for the rights to adapt Casino Royale into a one hour television show which they would use as part of the Climax! series. The TV episode was shown on CBS in 1954 and starred Barry Nelson as James Bond. Many Bond fans discount all movies and TV shows not produced by EON productions. Most fans only see the 21 films produced by EON productions as ‘official’ Bond films. This is the reason why many people will tell you Sean Connery was the first James Bond when it was actually Barry Nelson. So now you know the answer to the question who was the first James Bond. Now, let’s look at four great facts about James Bond.

Four Facts about James Bond
Fact 1: The 21 James Bond films have grossed almost $US4.4 billion. When adjusted for inflation it is over $US11.1 billion.

Fact 2: The 22^nd EON Bond film, titled Quantum of Solace, is due to be released in November, 2008.

Fact 3: Charlie Higson has begun writing a series of books detailing the adventures of the ‘Young James Bond’. So far, he has written 5 novels.

Fact 4: Activison are releasing a new James Bond video game based on the new movie. It will be released on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and PC.

List of James Bond Movies

  

Here is the list of all the official James Bond movies, including who played Bond, who played the Bond girls and the budget and box office performance of each film (in US dollars).

• Dr. No (1962). Bond: Sean Connery. Bond Girls: Ursula Andress, Eunice Gayson, Zena Marshall. Budget: $1.2 million. Box Office: $59.6 million
• From Russia With Love (1963). Bond: Sean Connery. Bond Girls: Daniela Bianchi, Eunice Gayson, Aliza Gur, Martine Beswick. Budget: $2.5 million. Box office: $78.9 million
• Goldfinger (1964). Bond: Sean Connery. Bond Girls: Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Honor Blackman, Nadja Regin, Margaret Nolan. Budget: $3.5 million. Box office: $124.9 million
• Thunderball (1965). Bond: Sean Connery. Bond Girls: Claudine Auger, Luciana Paluzzi, Molly Peters, Martine Beswick, Maryse Guy Mitsouko. Budget: $5.6 million. Box office: $141.2 million
• You Only Live Twice (1967). Bond: Sean Connery. Bond Girls: Akiko Wakabayashi, Mie Hama, Tsai Chin, Karin Dor. Budget: $9.5 million, Box Office: $111.6 million
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Bond: George Lazenby. Bond Girls: Diana Rigg, Catherina von Schell, Angela Scoular. Budget: $7 million. Box Office: $87.4 million
• Diamonds are Forever (1971). Bond: Sean Connery. Bond Girls: Jill St. John, Lana Wood, Denise Perrier, Lola Larson, Trina Parks. Budget: $7.2 million. Box Office: $116 million
• Live and Let Die (1973). Bond: Roger Moore. Bond Girls: Jane Seymour, Gloria Hendry, Madeline Smith. Budget: $7 million. Box Office: $161.8 million
• The Man With the Golden Gun (1974). Bond: Roger Moore. Bond Girls: Britt Eckland, Maud Adams, Carmen Sautoy. Budget: $7 million. Box Office: $97.6 million
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Bond: Roger Moore. Bond Girls: Barbara Bach, Caroline Munro, Sue Vanner, Olga Bisera. Budget: $14 million. Box Office: $185.4 million
• Moonraker (1979). Bond: Roger Moore. Bond Girls: Lois Chiles, Corrine Clery, Emily Bolton, Leila Shenna. Budget: $25 million. Box Office: $210.3 million
• For Your Eyes Only (1981). Bond: Roger Moore. Bond Girls: Carole Bouquet, Cassandra Harris, Lynn-Holly Johnson. Budget: $28 million. Box Office: $195.3 million
• Octopussy (1983). Bond: Roger Moore. Bond Girls: Maud Adams, Kristina Wayborn, Michaela Clavell, Tina Hudson. Budget: $35 million. Box Office: $187.5 million
• A View to Kill (1985). Bond: Roger Moore. Bond Girls: Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones, Fiona Fullerton, Mary Stavin, Alison Doody, Papilion Soo Soo. Budget: $30 million. Box Office: $152.4 million
• The Living Daylights (1987). Bond: Timothy Dalton. Bond Girls: Maryam d’Abo, Virginia Hey, Julie T. Wallace, Kell Tyler. Budget: $40 million. Box Office: $191.2 million
• Licence to Kill (1989). Bond: Timothy Dalton. Bond Girls: Talisa Soto, Carey Lowell, Priscilla Barnes, Diana Lee-Hsu. Budget: $42 million. Box Office: $156.2 million
• GoldenEye (1995). Bond: Pierce Brosnan. Bond Girls: Izabella Scorupco, Famke Janssen, Serena Gordon, Minnie Driver. Budget: $60 million. Box Office: $353.4 million
• Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). Bond: Pierce Brosnan. Bond Girls: Teri Hatcher, Michelle Yeoh, Cecile Thomsen. Budget: $110 million. Box Office: $346.6 million
• The World is Not Enough (1999). Bond: Pierce Brosnan. Bond Girls: Sophie Marceau, Denise Richards, Serena Scott Thomas, Maria Grazia Cucinotta. Budget: $135 million. Box Office: $390 million
• Die Another Day (2002). Bond: Pierce Brosnan. Bond Girls: Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike, Rachel Grant. Budget: $142 million. Box Office: $456 million
• Casino Royale (2006). Bond: Daniel Craig. Bond Girls: Eva Green, Caterina Murino, Ivana Milicevic. Budget: $130 million. Box Office: $594 million
• Quantum of Solace (2008). Bond: Daniel Craig. Bond Girls: Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arterton. Budget: $230 million. Box Office:$567 million

(source:boxofficemojo.com)