Three "no"s means "yes" with Sean Connery

James Bond is seen across the globe as the epitome of British suaveness. His daring antics, ingenious gadgets and penchant for unbelievably attractive women has kept audiences raptly awaiting his next adventure for the last fifty years.

I've been a huge fan of Bond since a very early age, indeed 007's adventures are one of the few things I can remember having regular in depth discussions with my day about - just yesterday in fact, having rewatched On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the inevitable debate as to why Lazenby just didn't work ensued.

But of course poor old George had some big shoes to fill, and his overly smooth, uncharacteristically romantic, hairless chested Bond was simply not what sixties fans wanted. And so, having recently been given the complete Bond DVD collection by my father, today we're taking a look at why sixties Bond is just so very iconic.

Setting the Standard

Connery may not be everyone's favourite, but he will always hold the the title of being the first (major) Bond. From his debut in 1962, Connery's unique delivery of the agent's introductory line will forever be THE way to say "Bond. James Bond".

The One-Liners

Connery has an unrivalled ability to deliver the cheesiest of bad puns in the most hilarious of ways. Shoot a man with a harpoon? I think he got the point! Electrocute a chap in a bathtub? Shocking! Connery's comic ability shone through without the cheesy whiff that accompanied later incarnations.

The Gadgets

Okay, so we haven't got to submarine cars (or invisible ones come to that), but the ejector seat in the Aston Martin, the super spy briefcase, even the collapsible helicopter all stand out as some of Jimmy's coolest toys. And Blofeld has some pretty nifty gear too; the table with the chairs that burn traitors, the piranha pool, a ruddy great volcano lair! And who can forget Oddjob's hat??

Good Ol' Fashioned Racism

Bond has never been the most politically correct of franchises; in a series that centres around a misogynistic international super-spy, it's difficult to not offend someone occasionally. But as we all know, racism was yet to be invented in the sixties, so Connery's plethora of racial slurs almost add to the kitch-ness of the time. Disguising yourself as a Japanese man, complete with eyelid implants? Oh Sean...

Sexy Sexism and General Rapey-ness

Much like racism, sexism had yet to be invented in the nineteen sixties. We all think of Bond as a smooth ladies' man, but watching back through Connery's adventures, we can now see what a massive chauvinist he was, and, worst still, a serial rapist. Yup, really. Watch them properly. Ninety percent of the women Connery "seduces" are coerced against their will. But dear god is he cool when he does it. Lovey dovey Lazenby never stood a snowman's chance in a volcano lair.

And so, as I shortly move on the Roger Moore's decade with the gun, I salute you Mr Connery. Sexist, racist and dangerously rapey, Connery remains one of the greatest secret agents of all time!