1969, Film: L'Arbre de Noël

The French film, co-produced by Italy, "L'Arbre de Noël" (English: "The Christmas Tree") was released on 15 October 1969 in France. The film, directed by Terence Young, was written by himself based on the novel with the same name by Michel Bataille. Main stars are William Holden, Virna Lisi and Bourvil. The music was composed by Georges Auric.

"L'Arbre de Noël" Poster

Synopsis
Since the death of his mother, Pascal (Brook Fuller), spends his holidays with his father Laurent Segur (William Holden). One day, when diving near the shores, an aircraft falls into the sea. The holiday goes on happily with Catherine Graziani (Virna Lisi), the young and pretty girlfriend of Laurent…

Virna Lisa, William Holden, Bourvil, Terence Young

Virna Lisi, William Holden, Brook Fuller

Brook Fuller, William Holden and Bourvil

Main cast

• William Holden as Laurent Ségur
• Virna Lisi as Catherine Graziani
• Bourvil as Verdun
• Brook Fuller as Pascal Ségur
• Mario Feliciani as Paris doctor
• Madeleine Damien as Marinette
• Friedrich von Ledebur as Vernet
• Georges Douking as Pet owner
• Jean-Pierre Castaldi as The motorcycle policeman
• Yves Barsacq as Charlie Lebreton

Bourvil

Trailer

1962, Film: “Dr. No”

The British film "Dr. No" premiered on 5 October 1962 in London, UK. The film was directed by Terence Young with a screenplay by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood and Berkely Mather based on the novel with the same title by the English author Ian Fleming. Main stars are Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman and Jack Lord. It is the first Bond film produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli, a partnership that continued until 1975.

Synopsis

James Bond (Sean Connery) aka 007, Britain's top agent, is send to Jamaica. He joins forces with Quarrel (John Kitzmuller) and CIA Agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord). He meets up with the beautiful Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) and goes face to face with the evil Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman)...

Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench, Zena Marshall as Miss Taro Kingston,
Sean Connery as James Bond and Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder

Sean Connery as James Bond and Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder

Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No

Main cast

• Sean Connery as James Bond (a British MI6 agent, codename 007)
• Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder
• Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No (a member of SPECTRE)
• Jack Lord as Felix Leiter (a CIA agent)
• Bernard Lee as M (head of the British Secret Service)
• Anthony Dawson as Professor R.J. Dent (geologist in Kingston)
• John Kitzmiller as Quarrel
• Zena Marshall as Miss Taro Kingston (a double agent working for Dr. No)
• Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench
• Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny (M’s secretary)
• Peter Burton as Major Boothroyd (head of Q-Branch)
• Reginald Carter as Mr. Jones
• Yvonne Shima as Sister Lily
• Michel Mok as Sister Rose
• Marguerite LeWars as Annabel Chung/The Photographer
• Dolores Keator as Mary
• Louis Blaazer as Pleydell-Smith
• Timothy Moxon as Strangways

Jack Lord as Felix Leiter and Sean Connery as James Bond

Sean Connery as James Bond and Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder

Trivia

• Originally Eunice Gayson was to play Miss Moneypenny and Lois Maxwell Sylvia Trench, but they switched roles.
• Anita Ekberg was considered for the role of Honey Ryder.
• The role of James Bond was first offered to Cary Grant, star of “North by Northwest” (1959). American actor Steve Reeves also turned the role down. Irish actor Patrick McGoohan turned the role down on moral grounds. Other actors considered for the lead role included Trevor Howard, Rex Harrison, Stewart Granger, Richard Johnson, William Franklyn, Richard Todd, Stanley Baker, Ian Hendry and Richard Burton. Albert R. Broccoli's favourite actor to play Bond was Roger Moore.
• This was the first James Bond movie. But the first James Bond was played by Barry Nelson in “Bond in Climax!” (1954).
• Cars featured in the film are a marine blue 1961 Sunbeam Alpine Series 5 Sports Tourer convertible II Tiger, a pre-war Packard LaSalle hearse, a black 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, a Mk II Ford consul taxi, an Austin A55 Cambridge, and a Ford Zephyr.
• The movie's title was spoofed in “The Flintstones” episode "Dr. Sinister" with a character named "Madam Yes".

Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench and Sean Connery as James Bond

Sean Connery as James Bond and Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder

Awards

• Golden Globe (1964), Most Promising Newcomer - Female: Ursula Andress (together with Tippi Hedren for “The Birds” (1963) and Elke Sommer for “The Prize” (1963))

"Dr No" Trailer (1962)