Dr. No: 13 Images from the Initial James Bond 007 Movie

      Dr. No, the inaugural James Bond film featuring Sean Connery as Agent 007, premiered on May 8, 1963.

      The upcoming installment in the long-standing series will be helmed by Denis Villeneuve, who is also busy with the forthcoming Dune: Part Three.

      As we eagerly await to see the future direction of the franchise and the next actor to portray Bond, let’s revisit some memorable images from the original James Bond film.

      Welcome to Jamaica

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      Although Dr. No was not the first of Ian Fleming’s novels about James Bond — that honor goes to Casino Royale in 1953 — it was the first to be adapted into a feature film.

      Filmed in London, Jamaica, and the fictional Crab Cay, the movie was shot on location in Jamaica in 1962.

      The storyline follows Agent 007 as he travels to Jamaica to look into the murder of MI6 station chief John Strangways. However, this plot serves mainly as a catalyst for Bond (Sean Connery) to meet Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress), as seen above.

      Take 007

      United Artists

      Sean Connery (above) secured the role of 007 partly due to his distinctive walk, as noted in the new book by Nicholas Shakespeare, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man.

      The book cites producer Albert Broccoli’s observation of Connery: “He walked like the most arrogant son of a gun you’ve ever seen,” leading him to conclude, “That’s our Bond.”

      Shakespeare’s work chronicles the life of Fleming, whose novels inspired the series of 27 Bond films beginning with Dr. No.

      Ursula Andress and Ian Fleming

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      Above: Ursula Andress on set with Bond's creator, Ian Fleming. Nicholas Shakespeare’s book explains that Bond was partly inspired by Fleming, who dramatized and exaggerated his own experiences with romance and espionage.

      Andress’s character, Honey Ryder, is often referred to as the first “Bond girl,” although her famous entrance in a bikini occurs roughly halfway through Dr. No.

      Before her on screen were Sylvia Trench and Miss Taro.

      Enter Bearing Shells

      United Artists

      Honey Ryder’s profession is shell diving, and fittingly, she makes her entrance in Dr. No carrying shells. While her opening outfit in the film—a white swimsuit and belt—might appear revealing, in the novel that inspired Dr. No, she is depicted wearing only the belt.

      The shell sequence altered the film’s anticipated reception, as noted in Ian Fleming: The Complete Man.

      “‘It was going to be a low-budget failure,’” recalls Chris Blackwell, son of Ian Fleming's muse, Blanche Blackwell, in the book. “Everything shifted when we viewed the footage of Ursula Andress emerging from the sea.”

      He added: “It was electrifying. We suddenly thought, ‘Wow, we have a movie.’”

      Bad Boys

      United Artists – Credit: C/O United Artists

      As reported in Shakespeare’s book, Fleming nearly ruined a take of the iconic beach scene. While leading two friends on a stroll along Laughing Waters, the beach where the scene was filmed, he almost walked into the shot.

      Director Terence Young called out for them to “Lie down!” which they did. Shakespeare writes: “Composer Monty Norman had just arrived in Jamaica to score the film and witnessed Young’s orders—‘They were shooed off like little boys.’

      “Ian and his companions remained lying behind a dune, forgotten, until someone remembered to let them go an hour later.”

      That’s Fleming, on the right, with Andress and Connery.

      Chemistry, Raw Chemistry

      United Artists – Credit: C/O United Artists

      The renowned, electric chemistry between Connery and Andress clearly shines through in the promotional shots for Dr. No, which, we suppose, was precisely the intention.

      “He was very protective towards me, he was adorable, fantastic,” Andress remarked in a 2020 interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera following Connery’s passing at 90. “He adored women. He was undeniably very much a man.”

      She added: “We shared many evenings together, and he would take me everywhere—Monte Carlo, London, New York. From the moment we met until now, we have always remained friends. Friends, friends.”

      At Sea

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      Andress and Connery are cheerful, enjoying a moment on a boat in the water.

      Connery brought a wealth of life experience to the role of Bond.

      Before landing his most celebrated part, Connery was a naval boxer, lifeguard, and model for art classes, according to Shakespeare’s Ian Fleming: The Complete Man.

      Director Terence Young at Work

      United Artists – Credit: C/O

      The film's production was not solely fun in the sun—here we see