Bond In Summer

From singing the calypso classic ‘Underneath The Mango Tree’ on a beach in Jamaica during Dr. No to driving through the ancient hills of Matera in No Time To Die, James Bond knows how to make the most of the summer. Be it misbehaving beside the pool, exploring landmarks, or just enjoying the jet-set lifestyle, here are ten ways 007 enjoyed the holiday season to the full.

1. ARRIVING IN STYLE

As seen in: Casino Royale (2006)

On the hunt for the source of a mysterious phone call to terrorist Mollaka (Sébastian Foucan), Bond (Daniel Craig) journeys to Nassau in the Bahamas to pick up the trail. Coming into land in a small, exclusive seaplane, Bond steps off the plane in a light grey, single-breasted suit, a white short-sleeved shirt, and brown suede shoes. After having flown some 4,060 miles from London to the Bahamas, only 007 could look this cool and refreshed.

1. CHECKING IN THE 007 METHOD 

As seen in: Dr. No (1962)

Investigating the disappearance of agent Strangways (Timothy Moxon), Bond (Sean Connery) travels to Kingston, Jamaica, and takes special care to spy-proof his hotel room, setting little traps to check if anyone has entered. He sprinkles talcum powder on his suitcase as a guide to whether it has been tampered with. He then plucks a hair from his head and places it between a crack in the door to highlight if it’s been breached. When he returns, his ruses have been sprung — later that night, he finds himself in bed with a huge tarantula.

3. HANGING OUT IN THE HOTEL

As seen in: Goldfinger (1964)

Poolside at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel, Bond (Sean Connery) decides to have fun and games with billionaire industrialist Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe). Suspecting Goldfinger is cheating at his daily card game, steals into his hotel and catches Goldfinger’s assistant Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) reading his opponents’ cards through binoculars. Without Jill’s assistance, Goldfinger loses immediately, much to Bond’s delight. By the way, 007’s fetching blue towelling onesie is essential summer wear.

HIT THE TOURIST HOT SPOTS

As seen in: Moonraker (1979)

Visiting Venice, you have to experience the canals and piazzas, and 007 (Roger Moore) is no exception. Yet when Bond, gently travelling down the canal, is chased by speedboats, he goes into overdrive by starting his gondola’s engine and outpacing his assailants. He later transforms the Q dept Gondola into a hovercraft traversing St. Mark’s Square to the sounds of Johann Strauss. Even the pigeon had to look twice.

5. A SUMMER ROMANCE 

As seen in: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

“I was always taught that mistakes should be remedied,” says James Bond (George Lazenby) to Tracy di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg). “Especially between friends…or lovers”. As Louis Armstrong’s ‘We Have All The Time In The World’ begins, we are launched into a whirlwind courtship: horseback riding, a walk through beautiful gardens, window shopping for rings, and frolicking on an empty beach. Every holiday romance should be so idyllic.

A DAY AT THE BEACH

As seen in: The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

Bond (Roger Moore) and high-class professional assassin Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) duel on the beach of Scaramanga’s private, secluded island. Before the pistols-at-dawn style face-off begins, Scaramanga shoots the cork off a bottle of champagne brought by his mischievous manservant Nick Nack (Hervé Villechaize), and then the game is afoot.

7. DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY

As seen in: Thunderball (1965)

“May I cut in?” says SPECTRE agent Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi) to 007 (Sean Connery) on a crowded dancefloor at a beach front nightclub during the local Junkanoo celebrations. “Do you come here often?” deadpans Bond as the couple shimmy, all the while watched by menacing SPECTRE agents. As the drumming builds to a fever pitch, Bond spots a gun peeking through the curtain and, as it fires, he moves Volpe’s body into the firing line, the agent dying in his arms. “Mind if my friend sits this one out?” he says to the assembled guests as he lowers Volpe onto a chair. “She’s just dead.”

A DAY TRIP

As seen in: Die Another Day (2002)

Every holiday needs a day trip, but perhaps not as eventful as 007’s. Looking to infiltrate the Clínica Álvarez, a facility capable of DNA modifying to transform appearances, on the Isla de Los Organos, Bond (Pierce Brosnan) knocks a boorish tourist unconscious and employs him as a fake wheelchair-bound patient to gain access to the island. Following a short ferry trip, Bond enters the facility and fights with Zao (Rick Yune), while the building begins to explode following the handiwork of CIA agent Jinx (Halle Berry). It’s a form of relaxation, but not for everyone.

WATER SPORTS

As seen in: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Trapped on board a US submarine, Bond (Roger Moore) needs a quick way to get to Atlantis, the underwater lair of Karl Stromberg (Curd Jürgens), to save Russian agent Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) before the facility is destroyed. He deploys a Q dept wet bike, a prototype jet ski, to skim across the waves and arrives to rescue Anya before the sub can fire its torpedoes. Fleeing in an escape pod as Atlantis sinks, Bond and Anya take a slow journey home — until they are rudely interrupted by their British and Russian superiors.

10. TAKING IT EASY

As seen in: No Time To Die (2021)

Having retired from the secret service, Bond (Daniel Craig) is enjoying the easy life, lying low in Jamaica, sailing on his yacht The Happenstance, and catching huge fish for his supper. It’s a lazy way to spend the summer, but given Bond’s history, you know it won’t last.