James Bond, who celebrates his 50th anniversary in films with the release of “Skyfall” Nov. 9, is a man’s fantasy of a man the way Mr. Darcy is a woman’s fantasy of a man.
He can leap out of airplanes, fight the Bond Villain from a moving train, whip out the latest tech toy and woo the Bond Girl – all while looking great in a tux.
Some Bonds have emphasized the brute in the beauty – Sean Connery, the current Bond, Daniel Craig – while others have gone for the beauty in the brute – Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. Does anyone remember George Lazenby, poor dear?
All, however, have captured Bond’s unmistakable, irresistible tough-tender allure, which we celebrate on these pages.