James Bond Audition Process

In the early '60s, movie producers adapting Ian Fleming's novels about a suave British spy named James Bond plucked a relative unknown, Sean Connery, out of obscurity and offered him the role of a lifetime. And in the early '60s, movie producers adapting Ian Fleming's novels about a suave British spy named James Bond plucked a relative unknown, Sean Connery, out of obscurity and offered him the role of a lifetime. 

And when Connery left the franchise after five movies, the hunt for Bond was on again. LIFE sent photographer Loomis Dean to the final casting sessions for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (released 40 years ago this week), and the magazine published a handful of those photos. 

But some of the choicest frames, Bond wannabes suiting up, holding guns, drinking martinis, wooing women, have never been seen… until now. 

Meet each of the five top candidates (including ultimate choice George Lazenby, bottom right in this composite image), and check out their best moves.

Of the five Bond hopefuls (narrowed down from nearly 400), 34-year-old Richardson probably boasted the most experience, having acted opposite such beautiful women as Ursula Andress (in 1965's She) and Raquel Welch (in 1966's One Million Years B.C.).

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