Doctor Who Vs. James Bond, Part 1: Dr. No

The first instalment in the James Bond
franchise was made in 1962 with a low

budget but was a box office success - it is

now considered one of the best titles in the

run. In a partnership that would last until 1975, the films were produced by Albert

Broccoli and Harry Saltzman.

Although the British MI6 agent and Royal

Navy Commander(codenamed 007) was

introduced in Casino Royale (1953), Dr. No

was loosely based on Ian Fleming's sixth

novel (published in 1958).

The role of Bond was originally offered to

English movie star Cary Grant whilst

Fleming favoured Richard Todd or David

Niven - the producers ultimately cast

Edinburgh-born actor Sean Connery

when Grant could only commit to one 

appearance.

Ursula Andress was then chosen as Honey Ryder, the first Bond girl. Bernard Lee and

Lois Maxwell, introduced as M and Miss Moneypenny, racked up eleven and fourteen appearances respectively. Connery ended his popular portrayal of

Bond in 1971's Diamonds are Forever, his sixth feature, and even reprised

the role for Never Say Never Again in 1983.

The iconic Bond theme was composed by Monty Norman and was arranged

by John Barry, but the now traditional title song was first performed by Matt

Munro for From Russia With Love (1963). Shirley Bassey was then hired for

Goldfinger (1964), the first of three theme songs. Another Bond film season continued on ITV4 tonight - Dr. No featured fifteen Doctor Who cast and

crew connections:

• Robert Rietty [born Lucio Herbert Rietti] (voice of Strangways/Duff here; voice of Largo in Thunderball; voice of Tanaka in You Only Live Twice; Dubbing voice in Casino Royale, 1967; Official in On Her Majesty's Secret Service; voice of Blofeld in For Your Eyes Only; Minister in Never Say Never Again) voiced Bedloe for Death Comes to Time
• Juba [Elgar] Kennerley (Patron here; Spectator in From Russia With Love; Man in Casino Royale, 1967) was Old Man in (episode 2 of) The Massacre
• SFX assistant (here & next three films) Frank George was Monoid in The Ark
• matte artist Cliff Culley was VFX designer on Planet of the Daleks, Invasion of the Dinosaurs and Robot
• Peter Brace (Stuntman here, From Russia With Love, You Only Live Twice; Guard in Goldfinger; Cowboy in Casino Royale, 1967) was Guard in The Curse of Peladon (4), Sailor in The Sea Devils, and Soldier in The Android Invasion (2)
• stuntman Steve [John] Emerson was Guard in The Macra Terror and Revelation of the Daleks (2), Resistance Man in The War Games (8), UNIT Soldier in The Claws of Axos (1), and Retrograde in Frontios
• Rick Lester (Guard here; Stuntman on From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, OHMSS, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, View to a Kill) was Ogron in Day of the Daleks, Carnival of Monsters (2) and Frontier in Space
• Dinny [born Dennis] Powell (Stunts here, From Russia With Love, Casino Royale, You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, Never Say Never Again, A View to a Kill, Goldeneye; Thug in Tomorrow Never Dies) was Thug in The Ambassadors of Death, Primitive/IMC Guard in Colony in Space, Stuntman on Terror of the Autons (1), Guard in The Curse of Peladon (4) and Genesis of the Daleks (3)
• Rocky [born Laurie] Taylor (Stunts here, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Octopussy, Never Say Never Again, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Skyfall) was Stuntman on The Idiot's Lantern too, following (uncredited) appearances as Warrior in The Daleks' Master Plan (9), and Guard in The Curse of Peladon (4)
• Arnold Lee (Patron here & Octopussy; Henchman in Goldfinger; Assassin in You Only Live Twice; Minister in Never Say Never Again) was Mongol Warrior in Marco Polo (2), Sweep/Coolie in The Talons of Weng-Chiang, and Crewman in Warriors of the Deep
• Graham Tonbridge [born Wilfred Graham Ollive Thomas] (Patron) was Council Member in The Massacre (3), and Journalist in The War Machines (1)
• Arthur Howell (stuntman here, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, Casino Royale, You Only Live Twice, Octopussy) was Confederate Horseman in The War Games (3)
• [Robert] Gerry Crampton (Stunts here, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, The Spy Who Lovd Me, A View to a Kill) and Pat [Francis Xavier] Judge (Waiter here; Patron in Thunderball) were Captive and Stuntman in Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 AD