British Computer Scientists Prove That Connery Is Bond!
Filed under: Action, Classics, MGM, Sony, Fandom, Tech Stuff, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels
There have been countless debates about which James Bond is best, and as we saw from Kevin's post last November, the fans are all in disagreement. But those who side with Sean Connery can now celebrate a scientifically conclusive victory over the others, since a computer has apparently proved that the first Bond was the true Bond. Two U.K. psychologists -- one based in Scotland and one based in England, in case you think there's regional bias -- produced a composite image using a prototyping technique on a computer, and of all the Bond actors the image most resembles Connery.
The funny thing is, according to their procedure, the psychologists' proof is incorrect. Maybe they should have stressed that Connery is the closest thing to a real Bond ever portrayed in an official 007 film, because the real movie Bond would have to be David Niven, who plays the character in the parodic adaptation Casino Royale (the 1967 one). See, the composite image was made by feeding the computer pictures of other actors who Bond author Ian Fleming had said in 1961 had a facial structure similar to what he imagined for the character. Those actors were Stewart Granger, Richard Burton, Patrick McGoohan, James Mason, Rex Harrison, Cary Grant and, yes, David Niven. Considering the fact that McGoohan is still alive, there is still time for a tie, but I'll go ahead and crown Niven with the honor despite what a computer tells me. Either way, though, one important thing the composite seemed to indicate is that Daniel Craig is the furthest of all from being the true Bond.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-08-2007 @ 4:53PM
Cath said...
I am not disputing how well Sean fit the role. However, I find it hard to believe that a couple of geeks and a computer can make a final determination of what was in an artist's mind. The great thing about art is that it is open to interpretation, so that each reader, each viewer, each actor can find some unexpected insight and relevance to a character. None listed to my knowledge have engaged in intelligence work though some of the older actors did perform military service in WWII.
Interestingly, Fleming had a different conception of Bond, closer to the kind of people he knew while doing intelligence work in the war and more like Niven. As the world of intelligence has transmogrified in the 21st Century, for the franchise wants to remain successful, Bond will continue to change with the times. Thus far, Craig has done an admirable job in that department.
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3-09-2007 @ 2:25PM
AirDave said...
Amazing! We can scientifically determine which is the better Bond, but we're still "waiting" on DNA evidence on who Dannielyn's father is!
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
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3-09-2007 @ 1:24PM
MorP said...
I really thought the artical was interesting, and yes, I've always thought Niven was as close to Bond as Hollywood would dare to get. And in response to the other comment: Why exactly can't we let Bond die in peace? Instead we warp and twist him away from canon just so that more money can be made. Let the man have some honour here, let Bond fade away.
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3-13-2007 @ 11:49AM
Robbin said...
James Bond Creator Ian Fleming, stated in his 1953 novel Casino Royale, that 007 bore a striking resemblance to songwriter-pianist Hoagy Carmichael. So the real question is which of the Bond actors looks most like Carmichael.
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3-09-2007 @ 3:42PM
claire said...
psht, that's just because connery looks like bond...that's silly. daniel craig was super.
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3-09-2007 @ 6:49PM
sean pritchard said...
Robbin's comments about the novel casino royale are right on point. connery is the man on film. moore may have been the least accurate, but we all grew up with him. plus he had the english gentleman bit down pat.
lazenby is not as bad as perceived check out on her majesty's secret service again. dalton really had a nice hard edge, but lack of humor may have cost him with fans.i did like him . brosnan combined all the elements and brought the franchise back. craig may turn out to one of the best over time. remember it's
bond at the start of double o service. he is not
defined yet as the character we have come to know
during the last 4 decades. but after seeing casino
royale he's getting there just fine!
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3-12-2007 @ 4:52PM
narz said...
http://www.peermusic.com/images/hoagy4small.jpg
according to this photo, if Ian Fleming truly pictured Hoagy Carmichael as 007, then Daniel Craig is right on looks and characterization as well.
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3-10-2007 @ 5:52PM
Jeff said...
Sean Connery is an awful actor. Daniel is the best. Him and Pierce.
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3-10-2007 @ 9:30PM
Scaramouche said...
Hoagy Carmichael affected a hayseed image in most of his screen appearances, but there are photos of him wearing a suit, looking serious, with combed hair and surprisingly he cleaned up quite well. One can imagine him as Bond. I always thought Michael Rennie would have made an excellent Bond if the movie series had started back when "Casino Royale" was published, when he would have been a good age for it. Very suave, handsome, and British, and a fine actor.
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3-11-2007 @ 1:45PM
Nerraux said...
I love when "scientists" release a paper based on work that some 40-year-old live-in-his-parents'-basement geek probably did 10 years ago with Photoshop for a laugh and then quickly pitched because even he knew it was useless and stupid. Go cure cancer already.
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3-11-2007 @ 2:46PM
YourMessageHere said...
Perhaps this is definitive regarding Fleming's idea of his appearance, but Bond is now much more than the idea Fleming began with. I have only read a couple of his books, but they're not what I think of Bond being, as I grew up with the films.
This study proves nothing; pretty much by definition, there is no objectively "best" Bond. Personally, I like Dalton best because his films take themselves more seriously and Bond seems more dangerous. But that's me; I have no real problem with any of the Bonds really. Others see Bond more as other actors played him. It's about acting, not looks.
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3-12-2007 @ 10:25AM
Stone said...
Daniel Craig is the best Bond. Having said that, this latest movie seems to be as far removed from the previous ones as you can get, and still be a part of the same franchise. It's almost not fair to compare Craig, as his Bond is so different from what we've seen.
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3-12-2007 @ 12:16PM
Dr Blockbuster said...
Schorry!!!
Scheems an interesting schtorry, but Dr Blockbuster could have told them that without the resort to computer power!
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