It has lengthy been a beloved nugget of trivia by James Bond nerds that Sean Connery may boss a gaming desk with the identical nonchalant proficiency because the suave undercover agent he portrayed.
Sean Connery, proven within the iconic opening scene of Dr. No, filmed at Les Ambassadeurs on line casino in London. Nonetheless, it seems that Connery was not as fortunate as 007 in actual life. His profitable streak at On line casino de la Vallee was only a advertising ploy. (Picture: Eon Productions)
Nicely, apparently, it’s all a lie.
Connery’s well-known sizzling streak on the On line casino de la Vallee in Saint-Vincent in northeast Italy in 1963 was apparently nothing greater than a rigged advertising stunt. That’s in keeping with a newly unearthed interview with the late Bond publicist Jerry Juroe.
Seems they had been simply attempting to get publicity for the primary Bond film, Dr. No, and the then-relatively unknown actor within the title position
The story goes that Connery, who died in October of final yr at age 90, seated himself at one of many on line casino’s European roulette tables, inserting his stake on his fortunate quantity, 17.
The primary two spins yielded no pleasure. However the budding Bond caught to his weapons, and on the third spin, the ball settled within the 17 pocket. Being a Scottish badass, Connery determined to let his winnings journey, leaving them on 17. Once more, the ball bounced into the 17 pocket. After which, once more, a 3rd time.
The chances of this occurring are about 50,000/1, the form of odds Bond overcomes in each film, in any other case he can be completely useless.
Besides that he didn’t. It was all faked, in keeping with Juroe, in a beforehand unseen interview.
Connery shortly after the on line casino caught him dishonest at roulette. Probably not, this can be a scene from Goldfinger, as everyone knows. (Eon Productions)
Unseen Footage
“The stunt was simple to perform as a result of the wheel was rigged, the bets had been rigged, and for a quick time frame, Sean – in addition to one or two different individuals who had been half and parcel of the operation – was sitting there profitable cash till he actually broke the financial institution,” Juroe stated.
It was not that tough. However, I have to let you know, as quickly because it was handed over, the cash was handed again. It was fairly a number of billion lire,” Juroe continued.
The interview was uncovered by Paul Duncan, creator of a brand new guide, The Bond Archives, who was given unique entry to archive footage by Bond manufacturing firm, Eon.
After all, Bond’s recreation of selection was not roulette in any respect, however baccarat, as established within the very first scene of Dr. No.
However, the advertising ploy was successful. It made headlines all over the world. And it most likely helped Dr. No turn into a box-office smash, setting the Bond franchise rolling. Though the Vatican’s denouncement of the film as “a harmful combination of violence, vulgarity, sadism, and intercourse” was most likely the clincher.
