007: 10 Facts About James Bond That Fans & Newcomers Need To Know

James Bond has been the go-to secret agent ever since his first mission in the ’60s, but there’s a lot more about 007 people need to know.

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James Bond is one of the most legendary secret agents in all of fiction. Because of him, he has inspired video game characters like Solid Snake and created parodies like Austin Powers. The character has gone through so many missions and has been seen in countless types of media.

However, newcomers may not know everything about James Bond beyond the obvious. These bits of information range simple explanations about his backround to lesser known facts like his real first live-action appearance, all of which are rooted in Ian Fleming’s books that Bond first saw life in.

10 He’s Scottish Thanks To Sean Connery

Obviously, James Bond is a British icon but his descent is actually Scottish. This can be most prominently seen in films such as Skyfall, where Bond visits his old home in Scotland. However, Bond’s ancestry didn’t become prominent until later in the books.

Ian Fleming added Bond’s Scottish ancestry following the success of Dr. No, which starred Sean Connery as the famed spy. Connery is, of course, Scottish. Specifically, Fleming added these Scottish details in the 007 book You Only Live Twice, cementing Bond’s ancestry forever. Connery would later star in the book’s film adaptation, though it was barely accurate to the source material.

9 Fanmail Made The Walther PPK His Signature Weapon

Ever since his first film, Bond has been equipped with his classic modified Walther PPK. Originally a user of the Beretta 418 from the books Casino Royale to From Russia With Love, Bond changed his weapon to the Walther in the film Dr. No. This is because Fleming was contacted by fan and gun enthusiast Geoffrey Boothroyd, who criticized his choice of handgun.

Specifically, Boothroyd took issue with the Beretta’s limited bullet type whereas the Walther used a more universal caliber whose bullets could be found anywhere in the world, which fit Bond’s globe-trotting adventures. Following this advice, Fleming switched Bond’s trademark weapon and the Walther was established as his signature weapon. Fleming thanked Boothroyd by naming MI6’s armorer in Dr. No after him.

8 His Name Came From An Ornithologist

When coming up with inspirations for the character, Bond was often based on people that Fleming has personally met. These include people within his time at the Naval Intelligence Division in World War II, an experience that informed his writing and even Bond’s original preference for a Beretta 418 since Fleming himself used one in the war.

However, the name James Bond didn’t come from anyone extraordinary. Instead, a bird ornithologist of the same name was Fleming’s inspiration for his famous spy’s now famous name. According to the author, “James Bond” was unordinary yet exactly what he needed.

7 He’s A Frequent Drinker, Smoker & Drug User

Many fans know that Bond is often decadent with fancy food and great drinks. His favorite drink in particular is the Vesper, a martini (shaken, not stirred) named after one of his love interests.

However, what newcomers may not know is that the character is also a frequent smoker, having smoked up to sixty cigarettes a day. He is also a known drug user, using them to stimulate himself during a mission. Notably, his drug habit isn’t shown in the films since it would’ve been an instant source of controversy.

6 He Loves Disney World

Although Bond has seen some of the most dangerous and even weirdest things known to man, even he has a bit of a fun side. During the storyline Never Send Flowers, he visited the EuroDisney Resort (now known as Disneyland Paris) with his girlfriend.

Bond was supposed to stay there for a few days but he ended up loving the place so much that they stayed for a whole week. The story even ends with a climactic fight in the theme park. This goes to show that even this cold and effective MI6 spy/assassin has a sweet and almost childlike side.

5 He Hates Tea

As mentioned earlier, Bond is an avid drinker, loving anything from martinis (shaken, not stirred) to shots of whiskey. However, when it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, he is an avid coffee drinker. Specifically, his favorite brew is Blue Mountain Jamaican coffee.

That being said, he absolutely despises tea, which he considers to be the drinkable equivalent of mud. In fact, he dislikes it so much that he believes it’s the reason that led to the British Empire’s downfall!

4 When He Isn’t On Mission, He Doesn’t Eat Extravagantly

Bond, on the mission, is very cool and sophisticated. Eating the best of the best while also drinking high-quality alcohol is basically a part of the job. However, when he isn’t protecting Queen and Country, he is far more down to earth.

When working, he eats exotic food at the various places and countries he visits. But when he is back in his flats in England, he eats average British food. This includes grilled sole and cold roast beef with potato salad.

3 He Married Once & Had A Son

In spite of the insane number of women that Bond has been acquainted with (so to speak), Bond has actually married at one point in his life. Notably, this matrimony was very brief. During On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Bond married Teresa di Vicenzo (later known as Tracy Bond), which was an unexpected yet heartwarming decision for the playboy spy. Unfortunately, she’s assassinated by Blofeld in a drive-by shooting in both the film and novel.

Many fans like to think that Tracy’s death is the reason why Bond lives an adulterous life as he’s afraid of committing to someone again, knowing full well that his line of work could get them killed. Bond also had a son with Kissy Suzuki from You Only Live Twice named James Suzuki. Sadly, Kissy also died but of natural causes.

2 He’s A Jack Of All Trades, But He’s Not The Best At Everything

Bond is an incredibly versatile character. Dishing out a lot of damage in every film, book, comic and just about any piece of media he’s been in, it seemed like he was virtually capable of doing anything the plot demanded. This includes shooting literally any kind of gun, beating powerful and imposing foes, and speaking different languages, just to name a few.

That being said, Kingsley Amis’ book The James Bond Dossier made it clear that while Bond was good, he is still easily beaten by his instructor. Not only that, but when it came to things like hand-to-hand combat or sports like golf, he is good but not the best. This adds a bit of subtle realism to an otherwise out-of-this-world fictional spy.

1 He Has Been Portrayed By 8 Actors (So Far)

Bond has been in film since the ’60s and as such, he’s been played by plenty of actors. Although Bond’s been portrayed officially by six actors (Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig), he has actually been played by eight in total. The other two are Barry Nelson and David Niven. Nelson is actually the very first Bond actor, doing so in the TV show Climax! where the Casino Royale segment (above, left) failed to spark interest in a proposed Bond TV show. This episode predates Dr. No by eight years. Meanwhile, Niven portrayed an older, retired Bond in the 1967 film Casino Royale (above, right), a parody of Dr. No and other spy stories of the time.

Each version helped cement a generation of Bond fans. Some prefer the classic version of Connery, while others might enjoy the campiness of Moore. Newcomers might love the modernized Craig films. Regardless of one’s taste, there is a Bond for anyone.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/james-bond-007-facts-trivia-fans-newcomers/