Suave. Dapper. Smooth. These are a few words I would use to describe the James Bond portrayed by Sean Connery in the films made during the 1960s and early 1970s. While the gadgets and cinematography of these films may be somewhat outdated and laughable at times, the character of Connery’s Bond will never go out of style.
Rarely seen in his films not wearing a suit, or other matching clothing, Connery always carries out his missions impeccably dressed (unless he happens to be wearing not much at all). And while Connery’s Scottish accent slips through now and again, overall he portrays a Bond as always calm, cool, and collected.
The Connery Bond films also have iconic scenes and show the origins of gadgets and devices used in later Bond films. It is in his first film as Bond, Dr. No, where the legendary theme song makes its debut, along with Bond’s love of cards, alcohol, and women. Even the first scene, showing Connery as Bond, has the actor seated at a card table in a gambling club. Bond lights a cigarette as he flirts with a woman who will become the first Bond girl. Dr. No also introduces Bond’s most famous hand gun, the Walther PPK.
Then in the film Goldfinger, the audience is introduced to Q, Bond’s Aston Martin – the DB5, and the many gadgets 007 carries with him throughout his missions. This film also has the iconic scene of Bond strapped to a table with a laser moving ever closer to him as he struggles to escape. I really like watching these scenes and recognizing them as the inspiration for many others to come.
Sean Connery’s Bond films also have more dialogue scenes and less of the large explosions common in the more modern Bond. This may be because of modern cinematic technologies that make these kinds of scenes more real and possible to achieve. But while I realize these are what make Bond films Bond-like, I also enjoy watching Connery’s Bond interact with other characters and attempt to use his wit and charm to get out of tough situations, instead of multiple fight scenes in succession. This adds another layer to the film, and the audience has to pay more attention to what is happening plot-wise.
To me, this is what defines a gentleman spy, and Connery portrays James Bond as such. This Bond also has many witticisms and clever retorts throughout his films that are said at the right time to elicit a chuckle from the audience. Such as the one liner “shocking,” said after Bond kills an enemy by electrocuting the man in a bathtub near the beginning of Goldfinger.
While there have been many talented actors who have played the famous 007, Sean Connery is my favorite. From his killer sense of style to the way he handles the villains to his travels to exotic locales, Connery’s Bond films will always leave me shaken, not stirred.
