The James Bond Films: Rated

[Barry]

James Bond, om screen and in the books is now 70 years old and in reviewing the movies, I thought a little history would be thought-provoking.

The first book, Casino Royale, was published in 1953. Because the wartime destruction was so excessive, Great Britain was still under war-time rations. So food, sugar, gasoline etc was still rationed and people had old cars.  So, in more recent readings, Bond seemed particular and precise in measuring food and driving old cars but he was just surviving like everyone else.

Sean Connery was not the first Bond.  In 1954, for $1,000 Ian Fleming sold the rights to Casino Royale to CBS’s Chrysler Climax. They put on a one-hour, live production, staring Barry Nelsen as and American Spy and Peter Lorre as the villain.  CBS would later say that Bond was too violent, cruel and sexy for TV.

But it began the reality that here would ALWAYS be two James Bonds, one in the movies and the one in the book.
(Which is probably why it made such a good movie in 2007).  It’s available on Blu-ray and is a curiosity I won’t rate. It’s terrible but fascinating to watch.

Not able to sell movie right, Fleming teamed with Kevin McClory a film producer, and Jack Whittingham, a writer, to write a screenplay. This screenplay introduced SPECTRE and Blofeld.  It didn’t sell, so Fleming converted “Operation Thunderball” into a novel. To make a long story short, McClory kind of swindled Whittingham over the rights to the screenplay and sued Fleming. The judge in the case made a Soloman like decision  on and ruled that Fleming owned the rights to the book, but McClory owned the right to the screenplay. That will come back to haunt everyone.

Why Connery left: It’s always about money!  After Diamonds are Forever, Connery would not appear in any EON movie or even on the dvds.  Why? Connery felt he was entitled to royalites of ALL Bond movies, not just his own.  He felt he was one of the creators.

When EON production began making the Bond films, Thunderball was still in the courts and they started on Doctor No in 1962. And here is the best example of the two James Bonds.

Dr. No: Rated Very Good
At the beginning of Dr. No, James Bond In an expensive tuxedo, perfectly groomed, enters a casino, full of cash and apparently a member.  In the books Bond made 1,500 pounds a year ($4,800) and a 1,000 pound bonus.  He could not afford those clothes and that wallet full of money. Or drive a wonderful car. He did, however, smoke 60 cigarettes a day.

And that beautiful casino he was at? Here is how Fleming described a casino on the VERY FIRST paragraph of a James Bond book:
The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. Then the soul-erosion produced by high gambling--a compost of greed and fear and nervous tension--becomes unbearable and the senses awake and revolt from it.

The movie James Bond was a creation of Terrance Young, the director, Ian Fleming, Sean Connery, Richard Maibaum and Jack Whittingham. (Originally the producers denied that they even had the original Thunderball script by Whitingham. But receipts and copies were later discovered).  While the movie Bond was different than the book Bond, the plot was basically the same.  Except, they added SPECTRE as the source of the villainy

When Ian Fleming met Richard Maibaum, who wrote many if the Bond movies, he said to him, “I like your James Bond more than mine.”

The so to be renowned James Bond Theme appears here for the first time, written by Mony Norman, but arranged, famously, by John Barry.

From Russia With Love: 1963: Rated Very Good
The plot sticks very close to the book, except, really, James Bond dies at the end of the book. And SPECTRE was added again along with some interesting gadgets. Fleming thought the series was over. Barry composes the complete score except for the title song. This movie begins the tradition of a great opening.

Goldfinger: 1964: Rated Great!
For me the best of the best. Gimmicks, villains, music, dialogue, cars and GPS! Connery really becomes Bond here. Goldfinger and Pussy Galore were perfect. Barry did all the music. I love the opening.

Thunderball: 1965: Rated Very Good
Until Skyfall this was the most successful Bond movie. McClory owned the rights to the screenplay, so EON made him the producer of this movie and also gave hm credit as writer. This would come back to haunt them.  I really liked the underwater scenes, with John Barry’s music, were like an underwater ballet.

Casino Royale: 1967: Very Bad
In the 1950s Charles Feldman bought the rights, from CBS, to Casino Royale not knowing what a great francize this would become.  Sean Connery turned down $1,000,000 to star it this production and, without him, Feldman, thought he best produce a satire, with many stars. It’s just bad and not funny, but the music by Burt Bacharach (The Look of Love) is really good. And despite bad reviews, it had done really well at the box office. It was released two months before You Only Live Twice.

Seven James Bonds at Casino Royale,
 They came to save the world and win a gal at Casino Royale!
 Six of them went to a heavenly spot,
 The seventh one is going to a place where it's terribly...hot.

You Only Live Twice: 1967: Good
You Only Live Twice: Once when you are born and once when you look death in it’s face. This is the first Bond movie that does not follow the plot of the book it is named after.  The movie has a sci-fi theme, with space capsules being hijacked. It is also the first time Bond meets his arch enemy Blofeld, although they forget about their encounter and meet again for the first time in the next movie.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: 1969: Great
On of the best Bond movies, with the worst James Bond, George Lazenby.  The movie stick very closely to the book. With a major hitch.  The producers wanted to end the movie with a newly married James Bond driving off with his new bride, Diana Rigg, my favorite Bond girl. This was Lazenby’s first movie and he thought he was going to be a big star…to big for Bond. He quite the series half way through this movie. Well, with him not coming back, they had to end the movie as the book ended, with Bond’s wife being murdered. Very depressing.
Fifty years later, at a Bond celebration, Lazenby apologized to the producers for his behavior.  They said, “You’ve finally grown up.”

Diamonds are Forever: 1971: Sit through able
For a lot of money Connery returns.  A great deal of the book is here, but this is the movie where the Bond films become over the top with action and humor. With McClory threatening a lawsuit, EON will no longer use “Spectre” or “Blofeld” in the movies until 2015.

Live at Let Die: 1973: Bad
Roger Moore premieres as James Bond. Moore felt that Bond was a comic book super-hero, Adding even more humor and more incredible stunts. Plot does not matter, but Jane Seymour was a standout. I really didn’t enjoy Moore as Bond.

The Man With The Golden Gun: 1974: Very Bad
For me this was the worst Bond book, a shallow attempt for Bond to go after an assassin. I didn't enjoy the movie, with Christoper Lee, either.

The Spy Who Loved Me: 1977: Almost Good
One of the best Bond openings.  Ian Fleming hated his own book and, contractually, had it stated that a new plot must be made up for the movie.  I thought the move was better than Moore’s first two, but sti;l not very good.

Moonraker: 1979: Sit through able
For Your Eyes Only was scheduled to be the next movie, but Star Wars became so popular they did this one.  I really liked the opening, parachute, sequence. Jaws was the first Bond villain to be brought back with the same actor.  Te movie is long and silly.

For Your Eyes Only: 1981: Good
This was Moore’s best movie, but he hated it. He felt it was too serious. It took its plot from several of the short stories that appeared in the book.

Octopussy: 1983: Bad
Octopussy was originally a short story about a man and his pet octopus. This movie actually uses another short story from the same book, “The Property of a Lady.”  Silly plot and hard to watch today.  If Bond had a cell phone the movie would have been over in half the time!

Never Say Never Again 1983: Bad
Owning the rights to the script of Thunderball, McClory remakes that movie, with Sean Connery. Just not as good. And it did not do that well at the box office.

A View to a Kill: 1983: Just Bad
Moore is getting older, fatter and out of shape.

The Living Daylights: 1987: Good
Timothy Dalton takes over as Bond and is the first actor who wants Bond to be more like Fleming’s. For example, he has less humor and won’t wear expensive clothes. His first movie is more formula than the early Bonds, but he does a good job. Pierce Brosnan was originally hired as Bond, but he could not get out of the contract for the cancelled Remington Steele. (They cancelled the show, but when they heard he was cast as Bond, wanted him back for TV movies.)

License to Kill: 1989: Very Good
Dalton continues as a grittier, hard nose spy in a story that was very original.  Sadly, the movie company did not publicize the picture much because of it’s own financial problems. They even had a name change which delayed everything. (License Revoked to License to Kill.) It would take six years before they could start another Bond film.  Dalton left.  They offered him the part but wanted him to stay for three movies and he don’t want to.

Goldeneye: 1995: Good
Pierce Brosnan takes over and is close as you can get to a clone of Sean Connery. His movies are very formula, but he shown from time to time that he can rise above that as an actor. Judy Dench, as the new M is great.

Tomorrow Never Dies: Good
A fun movie with Michelle Yeoh and Teri Hatcher, but nothing new. Disappointing for Bronsan.

The World Is Not Enough: 1999:Good
Judy Dench as M finally gets to see Bond in action and what he goes through. Sophie Marceau is a standout as the villain.

Die Another Day: 2002: BAD!
This is really two movies for me. The first hour, with Bond being captured by the Koreans is very good. Bronsan is just great and shows his ability to rise above the material.  The second have is silly and formulistic and dooms a good beginning. Pierce deserves more than this.

Casino Royale: 2006: Very good
An AMAZING story. First, Sony acquires Columbia pictures and Screen gems, the owner of the 1967 version of James Bond’s Casino Royale. They team with Kevin McClory and announce that they can now produce James Bond movies. EON, The Fleming Estate, MGM say “Not SO fast!!” Briefly, the court agree with the Bond people and Sony cannot make any Bond movies. But EON wants Casino Royale.  MGM has partial rights to a property that Sony wants so they trade: Casino Royale for the AMAZING Spiderman!
Daniel Craig harkens back to Tim Dalton and the books and helps create a Bond closer to novels. This becomes a Bond origin movie. Although they keep Judy Dench. Just damn good.

Quantum of Solace: 2008:  Very Bad
The filming of this picture began with no script during a writer’s strike.  And it shows. A great cast, bit one of the worst Bond movies.  And it had nothing to do with the short story it is named after. What a disappointment after Casino Royale.

Skyfall: 2012: Great
First, a very good plot, with a very good villain, Javier Bardem, then add many parts of James Bond’s bio as featured in the book, “You Only Live Twice” and then add two great actors at the top of their game: Dench and Craig.  An outstanding movie.

Spectre: 2015: Good
The Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Revenge and Extortion. This was owned by Kevin McClory. McClory sued MGM for the rights to the movie’s James Bond but the lawsuit was dismissed in 2000 on the grounds that he had waited too long with his claims. McCloy died in 2006 and the Fleming people were finally able to buy all his rights from his family. This movie does have elements of Thunderball in it. And the other Craig movies hinted at a major power was acting behind the scenes.

No Time to Die 2021: Good
So the producers of the Bond film as k Craig if he was willing to do another.  He said, “Yes, if you kill off Bond.”  They replied, “Okay!” It was a long movie, but, perhaps a fitting end.  Of course, James Bond will be back.



Only the Craig movies are available in 4K. These movies are not rated because they include scenes cut from the US showings. Violent scenes were cut to avoid an R rating. But they are included in the 4K versions.

[SRW1000]

Nice and detailed write up, Barry!

Even as a young teenager watching Moonraker it was too silly for me.  Turned me off of Roger Moore as Bond, and I was happy to see others take his place.

[bmoney]

Well done

I have not seen all of the films. Although inhave seen most. It’s funny because these are movies I love watching (even multiple times) and can NEVER remember what each one is about (specifically) 

[David Vaughn]

I own a lot of these on Blu-ray (and 4K), but haven't sat down to watch them in a long time. I really need to go back and watch all the Connery films. He and Craig were my favorite Bonds. 

[bmoney]

i want an aston martin simply from these films haha


must be silver of course

[David Vaughn]

i want an aston martin simply from these films haha


must be silver of course

With guns, an ejector seat, and of course, bulletproof glass. 

[Barry]

With guns, an ejector seat, and of course, bulletproof glass.

Hey, I got the GPS!

[Paul Heroy]

Nice writeup, Barry.

Agreed as most adults with more than 2 working brain cells that Connery was vastly superior in the early Bonds. Craig was very good too, and Dalton is one I wish had gotten a bit more run in the role. 

I'll never have an Aston Martin, but I'm on my second Tesla Model S which basically ripped off the AM DB9. It's definitely got GPS... and customizable fart sounds that Bond could only dream of! 

[bmoney]

With guns, an ejector seat, and of course, bulletproof glass.

At minimum the ejector seat. Bahah

[Paul Heroy]

Timely thread - the WSJ just ran an article about how Amazon's acquisition of MGM, the studio that owns rights to make the Bond films - has led to a standoff with the custodian of the Bond legacy, Barbara Broccoli.

Some choice excerpts from the longish article:

[Broccoli] has told friends she doesn’t trust algorithm-centric Amazon with a character she helped to mythologize through big-screen storytelling and gut instinct. This fall, she characterized the status of a new movie in dire terms—no script, no story and no new Bond.

To friends, Broccoli has characterized her thoughts on Amazon this way: “These people are f— idiots.”

The standoff, say people on both sides of the divide, boils down to a clash between the 20th-century Hollywood of big screens and big swings and a new entertainment industry ruled by Silicon Valley firms that prize data, algorithms and streaming subscriptions.

Before the purchase closed, Amazon executives brainstormed among themselves how Bond could be plugged into their machine. Would Amazon produce a James Bond TV show for its Prime Video service? What about a Moneypenny spinoff? Or a TV spinoff centered on a female 007?

Broccoli’s response to such enthusiasm, one friend said, is often the same: Did you read the contract?

During a company meeting ... an Amazon employee admitted her own misgivings.
“I have to be honest,” she said. “I don’t think James Bond is a hero.”
The room went silent.

[David Vaughn]

Timely thread - the WSJ just ran an article about how Amazon's acquisition of MGM, the studio that owns rights to make the Bond films - has led to a standoff with the custodian of the Bond legacy, Barbara Broccoli.

Some choice excerpts from the longish article:

Wow...I'll definitely have to read that article now! A friend's wife used to work at Amazon studios and pretty much says the exact same thing. Toxic work environment and was an absolute nightmare job. 

[Barry]

Wow is right, thanks Paul. I wish I could get the whole article.  if someone can I do appreciate it if you copied it and sent it to me. All this is the fault of Harry Saltzman.

Saltzman teamed with Albert Broccoli to form Eon productions and the bought the rights to the Bond movies.  By 1975, Saltzman made many bad investments and lost a huge amount of money. He had to sell his half of Eon. But, no getting along with his partner, Saltzman never offered, or even mentioned it to Broccoli. He sold his half to United Artists, infuriating his former partner. UA was sold to MGM and MGM was then bought by Ted Turner. Turner wanted their movie library for TNT and TBS.  But then Turner was bought out by Warner Brothers who now own the older  MGM library. Then Amazon bought MGM. So who owns exactly what I don’t know.

But I just rea two new books on Bond and the Broccolis  get along very well with the Fleming estate, who are now also the publishers of the bond books.

[bmoney]

Wow...I'll definitely have to read that article now! A friend's wife used to work at Amazon studios and pretty much says the exact same thing. Toxic work environment and was an absolute nightmare job.

On the delivery end too. Miserable to work for. So I hear

[David Vaughn]

Wow is right, thanks Paul. I wish I could get the whole article.  if someone can I do appreciate it if you copied it and sent it to me. All this is the fault of Harry Saltzman.

Saltzman teamed with Albert Broccoli to form Eon productions and the bought the rights to the Bond movies.  By 1975, Saltzman made many bad investments and lost a huge amount of money. He had to sell his half of Eon. But, no getting along with his partner, Saltzman never offered, or even mentioned it to Broccoli. He sold his half to United Artists, infuriating his former partner. UA was sold to MGM and MGM was then bought by Ted Turner. Turner wanted their movie library for TNT and TBS.  But then Turner was bought out by Warner Brothers who now own the older  MGM library. Then Amazon bought MGM. So who owns exactly what I don’t know.

But I just rea two new books on Bond and the Broccolis  get along very well with the Fleming estate, who are now also the publishers of the bond books.

Barry, I emailed it to you (unless your email address changed). Let me know if you got it. 

[David Vaughn]

I did NOT get it. I PM my email to you in case it does not appear here. Lefisc@verizon.net
AND THANKS1

you may want to delete this now or your email will be scraped by webcrawlers and you'll get spam galore!