Bond. James Bond.

In my book, there's only one Bond. Sean Connery.  He was the first James Bond I ever saw, and the best.  Mr. Connery has been in poor health lately and hasn't been on film in several years, but it is good to know he's doing voice work for an animated short, the second in a series, which takes place in his beloved Scotland.

Connery's Bond defeated a lot of bad guys over the years, and it's interesting to note that he's outlasted all the actors who played the bad guys as well.

 Last month, Julius Wiseman, who played Dr. No, passed away. Donald Pleasence (Blofeld in You Only Live Twice) died in 1995, Gert Frobe (Goldfinger) in 1988, and Adolfo Celi, Largo in Thunderball, back in 1986. I'll ignore the unofficial Never Say Never Again that Connery appeared in -- Max Von Sydow (Blofeld) is still quite alive.

Connery has also outlived all of the guys who played his CIA counterpart, Felix Leiter.  Cec Linder (Goldfinger) passed in 1992, Rik Van Nutter of Thunderball in 2005, and, most recognizable of the American spooks, Jack Lord, who died in 1998.

Time has also not been kind to Bond's MI6  brethren. Bernard Lee (M) died in 1981, Desmond LLewelyn (Q) in 1999, and sadly, the lovely Lois Maxwell, Miss Moneypenny, in 2007.

Bond girls may not have great screen careers following their appearance in the series, though the fabulous Pussy Galore of Goldfinger, Honor Blackman, continues to work at the age of 82. As far as I can tell, all the other lesser Bond girls are still alive and kicking.

So let's all raise our glasses (shaken, not stirred) to Connery Bond, and the fun we had at the movies.