While Gardner is not mentioned often in current conversations about Bond, it is worth noting that the Bond Gardner wrote about in the 1980s and 1990s is closer to the Bond of Daniel Craig than Sean Connery. I throw out three of my favorites for your consideration, if you choose to read-up on the phenomena before you see the latest flick.

In License Renewed (1981), Scottish racing connoisseur Anton Murik plans a nuclear attack in Gardner's first foray into the world of Bond. Murik's beautiful ward, Lavender Peacock, naively trips along, while Bond tries to save her and the world-at-large in a stunning conclusion.

A year later, Ernst Blofeld works to rebuild SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorisim, Revenge, and Extortion) in the United States in For Special Services (1982). Felix Leiter's daughter Cedar directs Bond toward millionaire Markus Bismaquer and his wife Nena, who seem intent on killing Bond upon his visit to Texas. Who is Blofeld? It's more mysterious than you think!

While on vacation, Bond finds that his housekeeper May and Ms. Moneypenny have been kidnapped in Nobody Lives Forever (1986), while a past nemesis has placed a bounty on his head. Struggling to free his loved ones and dodging various bounty hunters, Bond makes time for Sukie Tempesta and her bodyguard, Nannie.

Now, let's dive into the good stuff, leading off with Sean Connery. I've included my own rating of the film, on a scale of 00 agents, with 007 being the best, of course!

The History of Bond in Film

#1 Dr. No starring Sean Connery (1962): Rating 005

Bond is sent, with his new weapon of choice, the Walter PPK, to investigate the nefarious Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman). Along the way, Connery shows the influence of Humphrey Bogart and tangles with a tarantula. Chasing Dr. No to his atomic weapon facility on the island of Crab Key, Bond comes closer to the lovely Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) as well as the American CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord). The last third of the movie unearths SPECTRE for the first time, and action that serves up Gilligan's Island-meets-Behind Enemy Lines. One of the more thorough conversations occurs at the movie's climax as Dr. No tries to tempt Bond with the lure of power, believing he's found a man after his own heart. Fortunately for the free world, Bond keeps duty and honor forefront in his mind, and Dr. No's hands of fate are thwarted.

#2 From Russia With Love starring Sean Connery (1963): Rating 006

When a SPECTRE agent tracks and kills a Bond look-a-like in the opening scene, the audience knows that the British agent has his hands full. SPECTRE draws up a plan to fake the sale of a stolen machine to the Russians and Brits, luring Bond to his death in revenge for the death of Dr. No. Masterminding the action is the mysterious Blofeld, who we only see by way of petting his cat. The face of evil is SPECTRE agent Donald "Red" Grant (Robert Shaw), convicted murderer, who tracks Bond and a beautiful Bond girl through Europe, climaxing in battles on the Orient Express and high-powered boats.

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