9. David Niven
In hot pursuit of Carey Grant as Ian Flemings second choice for Bond, David Niven was very close to playing the eponymous role
. Albert cubby Broccoli, who owned the film rights, considered Niven too old for the part-though it was a close call. Niven did eventually play James Bond in the spoof 1967 Casino Royale How would Niven have fared as Bond? Pretty well, I think. For
if Bond is the quintessentially English cinematic creation, Niven must be the quintessential Englishman (remember Connery was Scottish). As Peter Carter in A Matter of Life and Death and Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days, Niven has proven just what qualities he might exude as a potential Bond. A consummate gentleman, a definitive ladies-man, witty and handsome, Niven would have been a pairing for the Bond persona in the way Stephen Fry was for Wilde-both man and character seem to echo and rebounds of the other. Was Niven a little too English? Too much of a gentleman for all that high-octane, action sequences? Too small? He certainly wasnt as buff as Connery or Craig. But, and its a big but, David Niven had a great moustache. Which he surely would have refused to shave for the role. Which makes him a pre-eminent choice. Whether Nivens easy, self-deprecating manner would have worked well, or not is of course speculation. After all, Connerys tall, dark and handsome Bond provided a boost of pride to British film-goers hearts. But, It might be noted that Connery was behind James Mason, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton in Flemings preferences too. In fact, Fleming referred to Connery as that Scot and as an over-developed stuntman. Connery believed Fleming too be a snob.