While it’s one thing to downplay the line to avoid veering into melodramatics, it’s another to fail to imbue the line with the flair made a necessity by Sean Connery. When he picks up the telephone and announces his name in the film, it’s uttered with a somewhat detached nonchalance that leaves much to be desired. Lazenby portrayed Bond in only one film - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service - reportedly leaving the franchise behind when he expected that hippie culture would permeate society and bury Bond’s ideologies under free love and flower-adorned pants. Over the years, many actors have stepped into the spy’s suit and ties, and many have taken a swing at the famous line, “Bond, James Bond,” so who delivered the line with the most conviction? Who carries all the charm and confidence, all the seduction and sobriety without wavering into the cheesy? 7. From the early days of James Bond - defined by sultry grins, unbesmirched tailored suits, and a cigarette hanging just so from the lips - to the later interpretations, which feature a little more ruthless hand-to-hand combat and fiery explosions, James Bond remains one of film’s most frequented and celebrated characters.
Sean Connery as James Bond | James Bond 007
