The 1967 James Bond Audition Photos You've Never Seen Before

Bond. James Bond.

A common—even cliche—phrase today, but in 1967, the magic was just beginning. These behind-the-scenes photos from the 1967 casting session—in other words, the five guys who weren't Sean Conneryof James Bond were captured by LIFE magazine photographer Loomis Dean, and wow, are they awesome. (Most didn't originally make it into the magazine.) Thankfully, though, they've been plucked from the archives and recently published online. George Lazenby may have ultimately won the part in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but the other dudes certainly put up a good fight. Enjoy. 

This shot, which did actually accompany a 1968 story in LIFE on the Bond phenomenon, is a composite of all five actors who were selected as finalists to audition. (From left: John Richardson, Hans de Vries, Robert Campbell, Anthony Rogers, and George Lazenby.)

Rogers mid-screen test.

De Vries checking himself out in the mirror, a move that was apparently part of the audition.

Richardson mugging for the camera.

Here, director Peter R. Hunt awkwardly repositions an actress's leg during a test love scene with Richardson.

The same actress, pulling a gun on Richardson; natch.

Here's the director helping Campbell get into a shoulder holster. 

And Campbell checking his lines. Off to the side. Perhaps not all that shocking he didn't land the role.

Here, we have Lazenby hamming it up with some random dude between takes. Such swag.

Here he is with potential Bond girl Marie-France Boyer. She ultimately didn't land the part.

Touching up between screentest takes.

And in true Bond form, Lazenby posted up at the bar looking cool as hell. Too bad he couldn't make it last beyond one film.


Joe McGauley is a senior editor at Supercompressor. He has been on exactly one film audition, when he was 10.