007

  

To make James Bond more popular producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman originally sought to have a popular film actor act out the role for James Bond. In the end the producers turned to Sean Connery for five films. It is often reported that Connery won the role through a contest set up to 'find James Bond'. While this is untrue, the contest itself did exist.

 

Connery became famous in the role of secret agent James Bond. He acted in seven Bond films, six produced by EON, followed by an unofficial Warner Brothers Thunderball-remake. These include Dr. No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967), Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and Never Say Never Again (1983) (unofficial).

 
Dr. No introduced the many themes and features associated with the secret agent genre: the distinctive James Bond Theme, the gun barrel sequence, "Bond girls," the criminal organization SPECTRE, narrow escapes, Bond's luck and skill, his signature Walther PPK and the licence to kill, over-ambitious villains, henchmen, and allies. Many characteristics of the following Bond films were introduced in Dr. No, ranging from Bond's introduction as "Bond, James Bond.", to his taste for vodka martinis "shaken, not stirred", love interests, weaponry, and a closing scene with Bond finally alone with the girl (generally in a boat). Also, this film establishes the oft-repeated association (in this case, Project Mercury) between the Bond series and the U.S. manned space program.  
James Bond's creator, Ian Fleming, doubted the casting, saying, "He's not what I envisioned of James Bond looks" and "I’m looking for Commander Bond and not an overgrown stunt-man," adding that Connery (muscular, 6' 2", and a Scot) was unrefined. However, Fleming's girlfriend told him Connery would be popular with the ladies. Fleming changed his mind after the successful Dr. No premiere; he was so impressed, he created a half-Scottish, half-Swiss family for the literary James Bond in the later novels.  
In June 1967, after filming You Only Live Twice, Connery quit the role, having become tired of repetitive plots, a lack of character development, the public's demands of him, fear of being typecast and the fact that the a co-producer made more money than he did.