To make the character more palpable to American audiences, the Climax! producers took many liberties with the adaptation. In 1954, one year after author Ian Fleming introduced James Bond to the world in his hit novel Casino Royale, he was persuaded by CBS to sell the rights to the story for a single episode of the American television series Climax! Sounds exactly like the kind of series that would feature James Bond.īond’s initial transition from book to film was anything but smooth. And like all successful experiments, the first attempt was an outright failure – so much so that it was lost and forgotten for nearly thirty years! “Casino Royale” (1954)

Sure, there were times that it hit some cringe-worthy lows, almost degenerating into the self-parody of invisible cars, cities in outer space, and Halle Berry, but it was the series’ often bold experimentation and renewal that would help keep Bond alive and relevant throughout the years. The series would continue to evolve and thrive for the next five decades and beyond, featuring six actors in the eminent role. The boundaries the films pushed in the sixties helped usher in the sexual revolution of cinema and by the time Thunderball came out in 1965, the Bond films had grossed over 3 billion dollars worldwide in just three years (adjusted for inflation)! Audiences were enamored with 007 from the sexy cars, to the creative gadgets… …to the Pussy Galore… By his third film, Goldfinger, James Bond was a household name. No (starring a then unknown Sean Connery as the titular character), the film industry was never the same. From the moment audiences were introduced to Bond in his 1962 film debut Dr. There are few fictional characters as beloved and recognized as James Bond 007.

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