Dr No was the first of 22 James Bond films and released in 1962 based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. Sean Connery had won the role of James Bond after producer Albert R. Broccoli watched a screening of the film Darby O’Gill and the Little People released in 1959. Particularly impressed with the fight Connery had with a village bully at the climax of the film, Broccoli took his wife Dana Broccoli to another screening to get her to confirm his sex appeal. The first Bond girl, Honey Ryder, was almost played by Julie Christie but it is said that the producers thought she wasn’t voluptuous enough. Ursula Andress was chosen just two weeks before filming began.
After viewing the completed film, James Bond creator Ian Fleming was said to have described it as being, “Dreadful. Simply dreadful.”
It’s thought by many that John Barry wrote “The James Bond Theme” but it actually comes from a song, “Good Sign, Bad Sign” composed by Monty Norman. Barry arranged and orchestrated Norman’s tune to produce what’s maybe the most famous movie theme tune of them all.
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Cover of the first edition of Dr No published by Jonathan Cape in 1958
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Movie makeup man John O’Gorman uses a lipstick brush in preparing actress Ursula Andress for her starring role in “Dr. No”, on location in Jamaica, British West Indies, May 17, 1962. The heat and tropical atmosphere of Jamaica caused quite a problem for John O’Gorman and his staff. the make-up started to run so quickly that he had to on guard every moment to touch up the principals between shots. (AP Photo)
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Dr No paperback published by Pan in 1962.
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Dr No Italian lobby card
Dr No James Bond theme by John Barry
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“Meet the most extraordinary gentleman spy in all fiction!…
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The John Barry Seven interpreta James Bond Theme Dr No.
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German lobby card
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