Joyce Minor
His word is his Bond
Joyce Minor | Highlands Today
Published: October 7, 2012
On Nov. 9 a new James Bond movie, "Skyfall," will premier in theaters across the country. No matter how it fares with audiences and critics, "Skyfall" already holds a notable position in film history. It premiers exactly 50 years after the first Bond film hit theaters in 1962, extending the longest-running series in movie history.Published: October 7, 2012
I like James Bond movies. I remember watching them on our black-and-white TV when I was just a kid. Almost all Bond movies begin with the same distinctive John Barry theme music and the classy, familiar, gun barrel graphic that comes to life. You may be a true fan, but how much do you really know about James Bond and the movies that chronicle his adventures? To find out, try this quiz I put together. (Answers are below, but don't peek.)
1. Who created the character James Bond?
2. What is James Bond's official job title?
3. What was the name of the first James Bond film?
4. How many actors have played James Bond? Can you name them?
5. In all the films, what is the name of the receptionist at Secret Service HQ?
6. How many Bond films starred Sean Connery?
7. Which actor starred in the most Bond films?
8. How many times has "Casino Royale" been filmed?
9. "Never Say Never Again" was a remake of what earlier Bond movie?
10. Can you name three Bond film villains?
11. Can you name three popular songs that premiered in Bond movies?
12. What is the name of the scientist who invents Bond's fancy spy gadgets?
Now let's see how you did.
1. James Bond was created by British author Ian Fleming.
2. Bond's official title is Secret Agent, 007.
3. The first film was "Dr. No."
4. Eight actors have played Bond: Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig and Barry Nelson (in a made-for-TV version of "Casino Royale").
5. Miss Moneypenny.
6. Connery made six Bond movies.
7. Roger Moore made seven.
8. Three, counting the television version.
9. "Thunderball."
10. My favorites are Jaws, the giant with titanium teeth in "Moonraker"; Scaramanga, The Man with the Golden Gun; and Goldfinger, the chubby Russian who tried to rob Fort Knox.
11. My favorite songs are Shirley Bassey's guttural "Goldfinger," Carly Simon's sexy "Nobody Does It Better," and Nancy Sinatra's moody "You Only Live Twice."
12. Welsh actor Desmond Llewelyn played him in 18 movies.
Sean Connery set the standard for the 007 persona, based on Fleming's description of the suave dark-haired British agent. Today's Bond is Daniel Craig, who is neither suave nor dark-haired. Craig plays Bond as an angry bully who hates everyone including himself. For me, Pierce Brosnan is James Bond. When he says, "The name's Bond, James Bond," women eat it up. He has that slight smirk, that twinkle in his eye, and his accent is real. Brosnan nailed it in "Goldeneye," and "nobody does it better."
Last week's column made reference to absentee ballots bearing the names of "300 dead Floridians." The actual count could not be corroborated and should have been deleted. The mistake was mine and I take full responsibility.