The first filmed Bond starred little known Scottish actor Sean
Connery as the suave, yet - by modern standards - hopelessly politically
incorrect, spy.
Others rumoured to have been considered for the
part included Christopher Lee, Roger Moore and David Niven. Moore
was already committed to filming 'The Saint'. Patrick McGoohan was
offered the role, but turned it down on moral grounds. He later
became Number Six in 'The Prisoner'.
It's surprising now to think Bond might have become the 'Spy Who
Never Was', as things did not run smoothly on the production. The
budget was only $1m, but when costs overran by $100,000 United Artists
wanted to pull the plug, fearing they would never recoup their money.
Then the Japanese office of United Artists misinterpreted the title
and produced posters with a translation that meant 'We don't want
a doctor'.
And after the film's release in Italy, the Vatican issued a special
communiqué expressing its disapproval at the film's moral
standpoint.
This did nothing to damage the success of Bond at the Box Office
- and he has rarely been off the big screen in the 40 years since.
Memories
of Dr No
