Every James Bond actor’s favourite James Bond movie
A war is currently waging behind the scenes at Amazon MGM Studios that could affect the very future of cinema as we know it. Putting aside any hand-wringing about how sad it is that the Broccoli family has sold the James Bond rights to Jeff Bezos, leaving the movie series open to being franchised into oblivion, something still needs to happen before any of that can occur.
Choosing the next actor to play the iconic super spy is always fraught with uncertainty and danger, as the character is so beloved to so many people. The task is made even more complicated by the fact that every person who has ever seen a Bond film has a different idea of how he should be depicted. Thus, everyone has their personal favourite actors who have played Bond and favourite movies in the series, even those actors themselves.
As any Bond fan worth their salt knows, six actors have donned Bond’s signature tuxedo on the big screen, not counting David Niven’s spoof version in 1967’s Casino Royale. These stars – Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig – all know a thing or two about Bond, both as fans and as the lucky few who have played him. But what are each of their favourite movies?
Interestingly, three of these Bond stars have the same favourite movie, although one has also seemed a bit trigger-happy when different outlets have asked the question over the years. The other four picks are equally fascinating, with one in particular sure to ruffle a few feathers in the fandom.
Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, and Daniel Craig’s favourites
Connery, Dalton, and Craig all believe 1963’s From Russia With Love is the best Bond adventure, which is pretty funny considering it was one of the ones Connery himself starred in. When asked to pick his favourite, the Scottish cinema icon told the Golden Globes, “On the Bond front, it would be From Russia With Love, because that story worked.” Dalton seconded this sentiment when asked the same question at the Bond 40th anniversary celebration.
Confusingly, Craig name-checked From Russia with Love as one of his two favourite Bond films, before naming a third in a different interview. “Dr No and From Russia with Love,” he told CHUD. “They’re great, just the best; they’re two of my favourite movies. Sean Connery being physical, scary, complicated, bad, all those things about the character.”
However, years later, Craig picked a completely different Bond outing as his favourite: 1964’s Goldfinger, undoubtedly one of the franchise’s most beloved entries. “Goldfinger, I think, is my favourite James Bond movie,” he told GQ. “I love Dr No, but it was sort of where Sean Connery became the James Bond that we know and love.”
Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan’s favourites
In 2012, Moore – everyone’s favourite campy Bond – spoke to the Hudson Union Society and gave a brilliantly random answer about his favourite film in the series. He singled out Diamonds Are Forever, Connery’s last go-around as 007 and the entry before he inherited the role, as the one for him. While that film isn’t exactly known for having many fans, Moore got a kick out of how goofy it was and enjoyed the abundance of one-liners. In truth, considering the tone of his Bond tenure, this pick actually makes a lot of sense.
On the other hand, Pierce Brosnan went for one of the undisputed classics. Fittingly for a man who went on to star in GoldenEye, one of the greatest Bond films of the modern era, he picked the other Bond picture with ‘Gold’ in the title. In fact, he said that Goldfinger was the first film he ever saw as a young ten-year-old growing up in rural Ireland, and it made a hell of an impression.
He was filled with wonder as he remembered it being “the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen,” before he cheekily quipped, “There was this gold lady laid out in the bed, naked”. In all seriousness, though, he noted, “James Bond has been part of my cinematic heritage, as it were, as an actor.”
George Lazenby’s favourite
Australian actor Lazenby has endured a tough road with Bond, generally being viewed as the red-headed stepchild of the cinematic lineage. He only played the character once, turning down the opportunity to do so again because he wasn’t happy with his experience. In his later years, he admitted that he may have been too hasty and should have suited up again at least one more time. However, perhaps his negative association with the franchise is why he is the only Bond star to never name a favourite in the series.
Have no fear, though, because while his sole adventure in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service may have been unceremoniously dismissed back in 1969, its reputation has grown considerably over the years. These days, you’re more likely to hear people say it was underrated, but one uber-successful director of many Bond-inspired movies will go one better than that. Yes, that’s right: Christopher Nolan insists it’s his favourite Bond movie.
“I think, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service would be my favourite Bond,” Nolan told Empire. “It’s a hell of a movie. It holds up very well.” In particular, Nolan is wowed by the movie’s “balance of action, scale, romanticism, tragedy and emotion.”
