James Bond
Before Sean Connery, a woman was supposed to become 007
Sean Connery (picture from “Goldfinger”) almost had a predecessor as James Bond.
© imago images/ZUMA Press
Before Sean Connery, a female 007 was reportedly being discussed. This is what a new biography about Bond creator Ian Fleming reveals.
According to the book “Ian Fleming: The Complete Man,” producer Gregory Ratoff (1893-1960) came up with this idea. In 1955, Ratoff secured the film rights to James Bond, who first appeared in Fleming’s 1953 novel “Casino Royale.” When it came to casting the lead, Ratoff thought of a woman. In particular to Susan Hayward (1917-1975). The actress won an Oscar in 1958 for her leading role in “Let Me Live.”
Producer found James Bond “unbelievable and stupid”
Already in 2012, Lorenzo Semple Jr. in conversation with “Variety” talked about Ratoff’s plan. He was supposed to write the script for the Bond adaptation. Semple also provided a reason for the casting idea at the time. He and Ratoff found the novel “unbelievable and even stupid.” “So Gregory thought the solution was to make Bond a woman, ‘Jane Bond’ if you will,” said the screenwriter.
As is well known, nothing came of Gregory Ratoff’s plans. In the early 1960s, Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman secured the theatrical rights to Fleming’s novels (except for “Casino Royale”). But it still took some time before Sean Connery got the license to kill. Ian Fleming first thought of the British noble actor Richard Burton (1925-1984). He could even imagine US star James Stewart (1908-1997) if he could get an English accent.
Ian Fleming was appalled by “Raubein” Connery
But preferred candidate Burton declined. According to Nicholas Shakespeare’s book, there were 20 to 30 actors in the raffle afterwards. These included big names like Cary Grant, Rex Harrison, Dirk Bogarde and the later Bond actor Roger Moore. Since an already established star would probably only be available for one film, they decided to go with an unknown actor.
The choice ultimately fell on Sean Connery. Ian Fleming was shocked when he met Connery for the first time because the Scot couldn’t speak “the Queen’s English”. “He’s not my idea of Bond at all,” Fleming said, according to his agent at the time, Robert Fenn. And further: “I just want an elegant man, not this roughneck.”