The first time a James Bond movie was shown on TV was in late October 1975, when ITV broadcast the first film in the James Bond franchise, “Dr No”. As we await the October release of the new Bond film “Skyfall”, this year we also celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the release of “Dr No”; coincidentally it’s also the 50th Anniversary of the author of this blog!! I’m not sure who has worn better, myself or James Bond?! It’s a moot point, as Bond has metamorphosised over the five decades in terms of being played by six actors – Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and latterly Daniel Craig.
My earliest recollection of a Bond film was “Diamonds Are Forever” and sitting in Mum & Dad’s bed on a Sunday morning, as Dad 
recounted the stunt of James Bond driving a car along a narrow alleyway on two wheels that he had seen in the film at the cinema, the night before. My first experience of James Bond came the following year when my parents took me to see “Live & Let Die” for my 11th birthday in October 1973.
TV Premieres of a James Bond film in the 1970s and early 1980s was a big deal, in an era where the viewer in the UK was restricted to three terrestrial channels. Plus the genre was relatively unique at a time when you didn’t have a surplus of high octane action movies like the Die Hard and Mad Max series. Everybody has their favourite James Bond, although Sean Connery is almost universally regarded as the best James Bond. However opinion is much more disparate when it comes to favourite James Bond film!! In my opinion, the best Bond films were made in the 1970s in terms of plot, stunts and humour, and the best Bond movie themes were made in the 1960s and 1970s……
Top Ten Best Bond Films
1) Live & Let Die
2) Goldfinger
3) The Spy Who Loved Me
4) Man with the Golden Gun
5) A View To A Kill
6) Thunderball
7) You Only Live Twice
8 ) Diamonds Are Forever
9) Dr No
10) From Russia With Love
Top Ten Best Bond Themes
1) Paul McCartney & Wings – Live & Let Die
2) Shirley Bassey – Diamonds Are Forever
3) Tom Jones – Thunderball
4) Shirley Bassey – Goldfinger
5) Duran Duran – A View To A Kill
6) Carly Simon – Nobody Does It Better
7) Lulu – Man With The Golden Gun
8 ) Nancy Sinatra – You Only Live Twice
9) Matt Monro – From Russia With Love
10) Gladys Knight – License to Kill
Which actor was your favourite James Bond and which are your favourite James Bond films and theme songs? Let us know in the Reply Box below.
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Also available – the DVD of your favourite James Bond film, framed with a personalised engraved plaque……. ORDER NOW…….. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/
Framed vinyl records with a personalised inscribed plaque, make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!
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