"Dr No" - It All Started Here Trivia Quiz

Answer: Richard Todd

Richard Todd was a friend of Fleming who thought Todd was the right person to play Bond. Todd saw active service in WWII. In fact, after the war he turned to acting and played Major John Howard, who was Todd's superior in actual events in "The Longest Day" (1962)(Another actor played the role of Todd).

It was while working on this movie, that a scheduling conflict meant he could not accept the "Dr No" role. Cary Grant was the first choice of the producers but when he would only commit to one movie he was not considered to be the best choice. Roger Moore, "The Saint", was considered too young and Rock Hudson was never considered for the role.

Answer: Yes

Ian Fleming was not happy with Connery being cast as Bond. In his novels Fleming drew Bond as upper class, English, educated and refined, (something like Roger Moore perhaps, Ian?). Fleming saw Connery as working class, Scottish and rugged. He changed his mind when he saw the movie and thought Connery was "perfectly cast". (We wonder if Fleming knew about the toupee.)

Answer: London and Jamaica

All locations listed have been locales for "Bond" movies but only London and Jamaica were used in "Dr No". Technically they represent only one country because at the time Jamaica had not declared independence from Great Britain. The movie stays close to the corresponding book by Fleming, published four years earlier in 1958. Fleming knew Jamaica well.

He built a house there after the war and stayed there for three months of the year. He did most of his writing in Jamaica, The other location used is London which is the home, of "MI6", where Bond is stationed.

Answer: Bernard Lee

All four actors have played M but Bernard Lee played the role for the first ten Eon "Bond" films. He probably would have played in more "Bond" movies but he died in 1981. Filming for "For Your Eyes Only" had commenced when he died so out of respect for Lee, he was not replaced for this movie.

It was merely stated he was on leave, as a plot line. Of all the actors that have played M, Lee's portrayal is closest to Fleming's character. Lee server in the Royal Sussex Regiment during World War II. He was offered a role in a local play when he was waiting for his release papers. From there, He appeared in over 100 movies, plays and television programs, with a propensity for playing roles of authority such as military or police roles Outside of his role as M, he is best know for his roles in; "The Third Man" (1949), and "The Blue Lamp" (1950).

Answer: Jack Lord

This was the first film meeting of Bond and Leiter. In "Casino Royale", the first book but the 2006 movie, they introduce themselves to each other (again). Jack Lord could have been a long term Leiter but he wanted more money and higher billing. Peter Falk played Leiter's father-in-law to be in "The Living Daylights"(1987).

Answer: Canadian

Maxwell was born in Kitchener, Ontario in 1927. She joined the Canadian Women's Army Corp but left, in London, when her age was revealed, to study drama. She worked as an actress in the US, Italy, Canada and England. She retired in England but after cancer surgery in 2001, she moved to Perth in Australia to live with her son.

Answer: Sunbeam Alpine

With a modest budget, the producers had to take what they could get. The Sunbeam Alpine was a four cylinder 1.6L British convertible (Max Smart drove the identically looking V8 Sunbeam Tiger). The car belonged to a Jamaican resident and was borrowed for the movie. The first Aston Martin does not appear until the third "James Bond" movie, "Goldfinger" (1964). The MGB was released in 1962 but after shooting had been completed. The 1949 Buick featured in "Rainman" (1988). Bond drove a 1930 Bentley 4½ Litre open tourer in Fleming's novels

Answer: Sylvia Trench

Sylvia Trench is another character that differs from the book, as she becomes a girlfriend of sorts for the first two movies before disappearing (in a figurative way). She and Bond are playing Chemin de fer in a casino. Bond asks her name, she replies "Trench, Sylvia Trench" and asks his name. Bond lights a cigarette before answering "Bond, James Bond". Classic cinema.
Incidentally there is no Q nor Quartermaster in this first installment only Major Boothroyd.

Answer: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Fleming died in 1964. Lee played Scaramanga in the title role of "The Man with the Golden Gun". Lee also played Dr Fu Manchu, who was Fleming's inspiration for the Dr No, character in several films. Joseph Wiseman had the dubious distinction of being the only villain in the first "James Bond" films who did not have his voice dubbed.

Answer: True

Ursula Andress received a Golden Globe Award for Best Newcomer. In a movie where so much new ground was covered, it seems ironic that one gratuitous scene rates an award. This role, her fourth but first English speaking role, kick-started her Hollywood career.

She went on to star in movies with Elvis Presley and even the "James Bond" parody "Casino Royale" (1967). In the corresponding book, she is known as Honeychile Ryder.