Rare photographs of the late Sir Sean Connery and Ursula Andress on the set of the first ever Bond film are heading for auction this week.
The series of 12 black-and-white photographs arranged on a contact sheet were taken during the production of Terence Young’s iconic adaptation of Ian Fleming’s novel, Dr No.
It marked the first time Connery – who died aged 90 earlier this month – stepped into the shoes and suave tuxedo of the beloved British spy, who he portrayed between 1962 and 1971.
Sean Connery and Ursula Andress are seen on the set of Dr No in a series of 12 black-and-white images set to go to auction
Connery appears as James Bond and Andress as his spy character’s love interest Honey Ryder in the iconic 1962 film
The images depict the shocking moment Bond and Ryder are posioned after drinking coffee inside their hotel room
The series of 12 stills were taken during filming of Dr No, the first of Ian Fleming’s spy novels to be adapted for the big screen
Contact sheets were used by photographers to produce a proof of all the negatives from a roll of film on a single sheet of 8-by-10-inch photographic paper, making it easier to select which frames to enlarge.
The images depict the shocking moment a dressing gown-wearing Bond (played by Connery) and Honey Ryder (Andress) fall unconscious after drinking drugged coffee in a hotel room.
There are also moments captured away from the rolling cameras, including Andress laughing with crew as alterations are made to her costume.
The contact sheet of 12 black-and-white images is expected to fetch £800 to £1,200 when they go to auction this week
Each image is labelled with a set of numbers, and “W” is written in pencil on the back.
The contact sheet is expected to sell for between £800 and £1,200 when it goes under the hammer at the Hertfordshire-based Prop Store’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, which takes place this week.
Unknown starlet Andress was catapulted to fame after she appeared as the first ever Bond girl in the iconic 1962 film, Dr No
Andress, now 84, stole hearts the world over and became an instant pin-up following her appearance as Honey Ryder
The film was also famous for the iconic scene where Andress emerges from the ocean wearing a two-piece white bikini
In the first ever Bond film, the British spy is sent to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of a fellow agent.
The trail leads him to the underground base of Dr. No, who plots to disrupt a space launch from Cape Canaveral with a radio beam weapon.
Amid all the spills and thrills of the spy action film, Bond of course has some romantic interest from the alluring Honey Ryder, a shell diver who emerges from the ocean wearing an unforgettable ivory coloured bikini.
Last month, the same costume worn by Andress went under the hammer in Los Angeles, with an expected price tag of $500,000.
Andress, now 84, stole hearts the world over when she made her debut wearing the famous two-piece, becoming an instant pin-up from the moment her character, beachcomber Honey Ryder, emerged dripping from the ocean in the swimsuit.
The scene has been copied and parodied countless times since the movie’s release nearly six decades ago, and was recreated in a more recent Bond movie by actress Halle Berry.
But while Berry certainly made a splash in her own rendition of the moment – which featured in Pierce Brosnan movie Die Another Day – no Bond girl moment has ever managed to top Andress’ iconic beach scene.
The career-making moment catapulted Andress, who was a relatively unknown actress at the time, to superstardom, and she has previously credited the bikini with ‘making her a success’.
Dr No also catapulted her co-star Connery to stardom and he went on to play the British secret agent six more times.
Between 1962 and 1967, he starred in Dr No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice.
After leaving the role, he returned for the seventh film, Diamonds Are Forever in 1971 and made his final appearance as Bond in 1983’s Never Say Never Again.
Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, doubted at first that Connery was the right man for the role, stating: ‘He’s not what I envisioned of James Bond looks’ and described the 6ft 2ins actor as ‘an overgrown stunt-man’.
But he later changed his mind after seeing the success of Dr No.
The iconic 1962 film was also the first time audiences would hear the immortal words, ‘Bond…James Bond.’
In a candid moment from set that is captured in the refreshing images, Andress has her costume altered by a crew member
The blonde actress laughs with a crew member during a brief break from filming with Sean Connery to fix her trousers
It has since become one of the most famous self-introductions in film history.
Connery died from pneumonia and heart failure in his sleep at the age of 90, his death certificate revealed on Sunday.
Connery’s official cause of death was listed as ‘respiratory failure’ brought about by pneumonia, old age and atrial fibrillation – a heart condition causing an irregular and fast heart rate.
Atrial fibrillation can, in turn, heighten the sufferer’s risks of heart failure and strokes.
He passed away in the Bahamas at the age of 90 and the report – obtained by TMZ – states he is married and lists his occupation as ‘retired actor’.
The James Bond legend leaves behind his wife Micheline, Jason and his other son Stefan.
At the time of his death, Jason told the BBC: ‘We are all working at understanding this huge event as it only happened so recently, even though my dad has been unwell for some time.
‘A sad day for all who knew and loved my dad and a sad loss for all people around the world who enjoyed the wonderful gift he had as an actor.’
The black-and-white images captured moments from behind the rolling cameras of Dr No, the first of the Bond franchise
