These Sean Connery James Bond Movies Formed a Near-Perfect Trilogy

From the publication of Casino Royale in 1953, Ian Fleming’s spy seemed destined for the big screen. Harry Saltzman and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli secured the film rights at the dawn of the 1960s after a poorly received TV adaptation, and Sean Connery’s portrayal quickly became iconic — dangerous, sexy and laced with a new, absurdist humor that the books did not have.

While the franchise would experience highs and lows, the initial Connery run coalesced into a trilogy that improved with each entry. Dr. No (1962) arrived on a modest $1 million budget with Terence Young directing. The production overcame Fleming’s skepticism and Connery’s then-unknown status — reportedly winning the role in part because Broccoli’s wife admired his presence in Darby O'Gill and the Little People — to deliver a restrained, stylish detective story.

Its measured first act gives way to a toe-dip into outlandishness as Bond investigates murders in Jamaica and confronts the menacing Dr. Julius No, who seeks to disrupt the American space program.

Jamaica

sean connery, james bond, ian fleming, dr. no, casino royale, albert broccoli, harry saltzman, terence young, jamaica, 1962