I never got introduced to Fleming until I was well into the movie (Dr. No), but I know he was not that happy with me as a choice. He called me, or told somebody, that I was an overdeveloped stunt man.
- Sean Connery on Ian Fleming
In February 1952, Ian Fleming began writing his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, while staying at his Jamaican home, Goldeneye. It was a project inspired by his time as personal assistant to Admiral John Godfrey, director of the Naval Intelligence Division of the Admiralty during the Second World War. Fleming’s imagination, forthrightness, and eye for detail helped shape many important intelligence missions during the war. Prevented from talking about his time in intelligence by the Official Secrets Act, Fleming turned to fiction to relive the excitement of that secret life.
The exotic lifestyle in the Bond novels made them a success with Britons who, having just come through a world war were living in a time of great austerity. The charismatic character of James Bond was an obvious candidate to be adapted to other media like TV, comic scripts and film. After a previously failed attempt at creating a Bond film, Fleming let Producer Harry Saltzman option the Bond film and television rights. If Saltzman could bring some of the serious minded, psychological complexities seen in his previous films, a film adaptation of Bond could be a success. Saltzman now needed to find a studio and secure financing.
Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli had been attempting to secure the rights to the Bond novels for some years without success. Meeting through a mutual friend, Saltzman and Broccoli agreed to go into business together and produce the Bond films as EON Productions. With an agreement in place with United Artists, they made the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962).
By the time the first of the Bond films, Dr. No, was ready to pick its star, Fleming had already written nearly ten 007 novels and was intimately connected to the character. He had an idea for a leading man, and Connery was not it. Fleming's picks for Bond started with David Niven. He had been acting for nearly 20 years, and had the look and feel that Fleming was going for. Fleming didn't consider Connery such an ideal choice as Niven.
Fleming would get over his negative feelings for Connery. For one, he was already hired for the role and the production was underway by the time author and actor met. Fleming would become enough of a Connery fan - after Connery hit the Dr. No performance out of the park — to write details into future James Bond novels that hinted at the actor, including giving the secret agent a partial Scottish heritage. People were going to envision Connery when they read the novels anyway - better to explain why 007 spoke with Connery's unique accent than leave fans wondering.
Passing away just weeks before the premiere of Goldfinger (1964), Fleming lived to see two of the 24 Bond films that were inspired by his novels, Dr. No (1962) and From Russia With Love (1963) become an enormous success.
*Photo: Sean Connery and Ian Fleming with Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman