20. The Gun Barrel Sequence Impostor - Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger
One of the most instantly recognisable Bond motifs is one that's recurred more than any other: the gun barrel sequence, which has opened almost every Bond film (or, alternatively, appeared at the end, as in Quantum Of Solace and Skyfall). So, as the figure shooting down the camera at the audience is supposed to be Bond himself, the character is played - naturally - by whichever Bond actor is appearing in that particular film. Not counting, that is, a few early exceptions, where it's not first Bond Sean Connery firing down the barrel, but Bob Simmons, the franchise's regular stuntman. Simmons appears at the beginning of Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger, before being replaced by Connery and all subsequent Bond actors from Thunderball onwards.
Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1
