The name's Bond, James Bond
Like a sloshed martini, the glamorous movie realm of James Bond has often spilled into the real world. In 58 years and 25 films, the off-screen aura of 007 has been nearly as iconic as the on-screen fantasy.
For six decades, Associated Press photographers have been chronicling the tuxedoed premieres, the meetings with real-life royalty and the relentless public swirl that follows every heir to the spy throne.
In their images you can see Sean Connery cuddling with “From Russia With Love” co-star Daniela Bianchi on set at Pinewood Studios, George Lazenby brandishing a pistol for the press, Daniel Craig bowing to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Actor Sean Connery who portrays James Bond in the film versions of Ian Flemming's thrillers, snuggles up to Italian actress Daniela Bianchi, who will be his co-star in the film “From Russia With Love”. The pair began filming at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, on April 1, 1963. (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
Australian George Lazenby, the new James Bond, playfully aims a pistol at Diana Rigg, during a press reception they gave at London's Hilton Hotel, on Oct. 13, 1968. Rigg also has a big role in the new James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
Actor Sean Connery, star of the James Bond films, and his wife, actress Diane Cilento, left, engaged in a conversation with Princess Margaret at a reception in the foyer of Odeon Cinema at Leicester Square, in London, Feb. 16, 1965. (AP Photo)
Princess Diana meets Timothy Dalton, who succeeded Roger Moore as James Bond, at the charity premiere of "The Living Daylights" at London's Odeon Cinema, Monday, June 29, 1987. (AP Photo/Pool)
Pierce Brosnan, left, Halle Berry and director Lee Tamahor, third left, greet Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, as she arrives for the world premiere of the new James Bond film 'Die Another Day' at the Royal Albert Hall in central London, Monday, Nov. 18 2002. (AP Photo/Pool)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, left, meets actor Daniel Craig, the new James Bond, during the world premiere of the latest James Bond movie "Casino Royale" at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square, London, Nov. 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Stephen Hird, Pool)
It's possible to follow Bond’s footprints around the world, from coastal Italy to 7007 Hollywood Boulevard, where Moore sees his Hollywood Star set in cement. When, in 1966, Connery ducks beneath an airplane’s wing, having just arrived in Paris from Japan, you’d swear you were looking at a movie still.
Actor Roger Moore, who played the part of James Bond 007 in seven films, receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Moore's star is aptly located at 7007 Hollywood Blvd. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
British actor Sean Connery arrives at London Airport on Sept. 15, 1966, having traveled from Japan via Paris. He has been filming the new James Bond film “You Only Live Twice”, in which he plays secret service agent James Bond, 007. (AP Photo/Victor Boynton)
The latest chapter in the Bond saga, “No Time to Die,” lands this week in London and in theaters most everywhere Oct. 8. The pandemic has delayed its release by a year and a half. Here, from all the way back in 2019, is Craig, seated in a Aston Martin, while making the film. Still, “No Time to Die” is likely to again stir Bond fans, and maybe shake them, too. Craig has said it will be his last film in the role.
Actor Daniel Craig is partially seen, left, sitting inside one of the Aston Martin DB5 used on the set of the latest James Bond movie 'No Time to Die', in Matera, southern Italy, Sept. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Fabio Dell'Aquila)
Producers Michael G Wilson, left, and Barbara Broccoli, right, pose for photographers with actor Daniel Craig during the photo call of the latest installment of the James Bond film franchise, currently known as 'Bond 25', in Oracabessa, Jamaica, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Leo Hudson)
But even if the pandemic has somewhat diminished the event of a new James Bond film, the franchise remains a singular pop-culture juggernaut. One of the most appropriate photographs here is from the man who dreamed up Bond in the first place, the author Ian Fleming. There he is beaming on the Istanbul set of “From Russia With Love” in 1963. A locomotive looms behind him. Could he have had any idea what a runaway train it was?
British writer Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond spy thrillers, sits in front of a Turkish train, as a gag, during a visit to the set of the film "From Russia, with Love" in Istanbul, Turkey, June 23, 1963. (AP Photo/Ahmet Baran)
James Bond, alias, Sean Connery, finds himself in a sticky situation with actress Shirley Eaton at Pinewood Studios, near London, April 20, 1964. Miss Eaton was given a liberal coating of gold paint, studio make up for a scene, in the latest Bond thriller "Goldfinger," (AP Photo/Victor Boynton)
British actor Sean Connery, being given a Japanese bath, during filming of a scene in the James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, at Pinewood Studios near London on Sept. 26, 1966. The actresses shown are Yasuko Nagazuni, at left and Yee Wah Yang at right. (AP Photo/Sidney Smart)
From article Meet 007’s Tailor, by Joy Miller, in TS News Features, Nov. 29 1965. (AP Corporate Archives)
British actor Sean Connery is seen dressed for his starring role as James Bond for the new 007 film, “You Only Live Twice”, filming at Pinewood Studios and Japan. In this scene Connery is seen at the base of a huge film set of a volcano, at Pinewood Studios, which in the film is the Japanese headquarters of the crime syndicate SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terror, Revenge and Extortion), shown on Nov. 22, 1966. (AP Photo/Sidney Smart)
Australian George Lazenby, who has been picked to portray Agent 007 in the new James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", is surrounded by press and photographers, during a press conference at the Dorchester Hotel in London, England, on Oct. 7, 1968. (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
A group of women bear witness to the sudden fall of James Bond, played by George Lazenby, during a scene from "Her Majesty's Secret Service", being filmed on location at Schilthorn, Murren, in the Swiss Alps. (AP Photo/Robert Dear)
Stars of new James Bond film meet the Duke and Duchess of Kent at the London premiere of the film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", on Dec. 18, 1969, in London, England. (AP Archive)
British actor Roger Moore, playing the title role of secret service agent 007, James Bond, is shown on location in England in 1972. (AP Photo)
Roger Moore, alias British secret agent James Bond, is accompanied by co-star Barbara Bach as they arrive for the screening of "The Spy Who Loved Me", at the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera, May 20, 1977. (AP Photo)
Actors Roger Moore and Lois Chiles are seen during the filming of the new 007 movie "Moonraker", in Paris, Aug. 19, 1978. (AP Photo/Michel Lipchitz)
Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, producer of the "James Bond" series, holds the Thalberg Award he received for his work at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Ca., March 29, 1982. Roger Moore, left, British actor who plays secret agent 007 James Bond, made the presentation. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
British movie actor Roger Moore, center, poses in his role as British secret agent 007, with cast members for the James Bond movie "A View To Kill" on location at Chateau de Chantilly, in suburban Paris, France, Aug. 17, 1984. (AP Photo/Alexis Duclos)
British actor Sean Connery, who stars in the new James Bond movie “Never Say Never Again”, with co-stars Barbara Carrera (at right) and Pamela Salem, in London, England, on Dec. 12, 1983. The movie is to be given its premiere in London later. (AP Photo/Joseph Schaber)
Timothy Dalton left, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan, three of the actors who have portrayed the English secret agent James Bond line up at a central London cinema to celebrate the life of Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, Sunday, Nov. 17, 1996. The American film producer Broccoli was responsible for the seventeen Bond movies from 'Dr. No' to the recent 'Goldeneye'. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan and his co-star Michelle Yeoh "hang on" to a motorcycle during the filming of "Tomorrow Never Dies", the 18th Bond adventure, in Bangkok, Friday, May 30, 1997. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Actor Pierce Brosnan laughs as he poses in front of poster for his film "Tomorrow Never Dies", on Jan. 8, 1998 in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Roberto Velezquez)
British actor Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond, poses for photographers at a photo call for the new Bond film, which has now been titled “Quantum of Solace”, at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Text by AP Film Writer Jake Coyle