Top 7 Scenes of Sean Connery's James Bond

You Only Live Twice: Sean Connery as James Bond 007.

1.       The Killing of Professor Dent. (Dr. No, 1962)

The killing of Professor Dent in the first of the Bond films proves that this was always going to be

A spectacular franchise. The line “It’s a Smith and Wesson and you’ve had your six” from Bond before he shoots Dent is one of the best in the series. Connery was setting the benchmark for the future Bond actors.

2.       The Train Fight. (From Russia With Love, 1963)

This, another hallmark of the early Bonds, was a definitive scene where Red Grant finally corners Bond on the train and tries to kill him with Tatiana lying drugged in the bed next door. Grant and Bond’s scene was pure tense thriller and when the inevitable showdown happened, it was glorious and one of Bond’s best defeats in the entire series.

3.       The Seduction of Pussy Galore (Goldfinger, 1964)

Pussy Galore was a character who was written as a lesbian in the 1959 novel by Ian Fleming, thus she remained so in the film, albeit not expressly stated. Bond is told “You can turn off the charm, I’m immune!” but of course, our hero keeps on and eventually turns her to his side in more ways than one.

4.       The Chateau Fight. (Thunderball, 1965)

This fight that takes place in the pre-titles sequence is thrilling. Bond is in a widow’s house after a funeral of an enemy. After offering her his condolences, Bond swiftly punches her in the face. It is quickly revealed that the widow is actually the corpse and Bond has figured it out. After defeating his foe, Bond escapes pursuing henchmen on his jetpack back to the girl and the Aston Martin which is waiting for him.

5.       Kobe Docks (You Only Live Twice, 1967)

In this film, Bond goes to Japan to liase with the Japanese Secret Service over missing Russian and American space craft. This is the film that introduces what Blofeld actually looks like to the audience and thus, is parodied in numerous spy spoofs since (Most notably the Austin Powers film series). The Kobe Docks fight is a cinematic masterpiece. The way the camera pans away to show Bond defeating countless thugs on a rooftop accompanied by John Barry’s score is absolutely perfect.

6.       The Moon Buggy Chase. (Diamonds Are Forever, 1971)

      A lot of Bond fans give this film a thumbs down in polls of Connery’s best film as 007. Connery quit the role after You Only Live Twice and was replaced by George Lazenby for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. After Lazenby quit the role, Connery was enticed back for one more film and the result was the very campy (Blofeld in drag, anyone?) caper that is Diamonds Are Forever. This film set the tone for the 1970s and the Moon Buggy Chase where Bond escapes in one across the Nevada Desert maybe the nadir of the film.

7.       The Shrublands Fight. (Never Say Never Again, 1983)

Connery, in this non-EON Bond film, returns to play an older James Bond in this Kevin McClory produced ‘Thunderball’ remake with Kim Basinger playing the Bond girl. While Bond is eliminating free radicals, Lippe is sent by Fatima Blush to eliminate him. Lippe was played by Pat Roach, who became well known in the UK as Bomber in the ITV series ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’. Lippe and Bond, after destroying half the building, finally face off in the sample room, where Bond throws a urine sample in Lippe’s face, blinding him and eventually impaling himself on shards of glass. Whose urine sample did Bond throw? Why, his own, of course!