007 Chronological Viewing Order

[Dallas Kinard]

This thread can be used for any and all findings for the 007 franchise.

Original Timeline:

- 1954 -

Barry Nelson Era - "Climax!" Episode 1.03: "Casino Royale"

Cinematic Timeline:

- 1962 -

- February -

Sean Connery Era - 01. "Dr. No" (February XX - 20th, 1962)

- 1963 -

Sean Connery Era - 02. "From Russia With Love"

- 1964 -

- November -

Sean Connery Era - 03. "Goldfinger" (XXXX - November, 1964)

- 1965 -

- May -

Sean Connery Era - 04. "Thunderball" (May XX - 27th, 1965)

- 1966 -

- July -

Sean Connery Era - 05. "You Only Live Twice" (July, 1966)

- 1967 -

Sean Connery Era - "Welcome To Japan Mr. Bond"

- 1969 -

- December -

George Lazenby Era - 06. "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (September - December, 1969)

- 1971 -

- July -

Sean Connery Era - 07. "Diamonds Are Forever" (March - July, 1971)

 

[Dallas Kinard]

I just watched "Dr. No" this weekend and believe it's firmly set in late February of 1962 for two reasons.

First, we have this calendar (the best pic I could get online). It lines up with Feb of 1962.

And lastly we have Operation Mercury-Atlas 6 occurring during the third act. This rocket launched on 02/20/1962 (30 years before I was born, as I am 02/20/1992).

Now I didn't get a chance to count backwards the days, but I'd say the film takes place over the course of a few days, ending on Feb 20, 1962.

 

[Dallas Kinard]

I watched "From Russia With Love" this weekend. It's firmly set in 1963.

This film introduces "Q" (standing for Quartermaster). "Major Boothroyd", a character similar to "Q", appeared in the previous film, "Dr. No" who was addressed as "Armorer".

 

[Dallas Kinard]

I watched the third Bond film this weekend "Goldfinger". Here are my findings. I believe the film is firmly set in 1964.

A wall calendar can be seen at the 19:21 mark, although it's difficult to make out the specific month.

Around the 25:35 mark, a Dunlop Golf poster can be seen with 1964 on it as the date.

At the 33:08 mark, an inspection sticker dated "FEB 65" can be seen on James Bond's car.

At the 34:33 mark, Goldfinger's car inspection sticker can be seen dated "AUG 64".

At the 1:14:51 mark, a license plate date of 1964 can be seen.

The following exchange shows that it's the summer season:

Tilly Masterson:
"It's for my ice skates."

James Bond:
"Lovely sport. Where do you skate?"

Tilly Masterson:
"Saint Moritz."

James Bond:
"I didn't know there was ice there this time of the year."

At one point, James Bond refers to Felix Leiter's time in Jamaica, referring to the events of "Dr. No". Felix Leiter must be a code-name as the character is portrayed differently in this film.

 

[Dallas Kinard]

I watched 1965's "Thunderball" last weekend. Here are my findings for the 007 thread that I'm sure someone will create eventually.

At around the 22:04 mark, a chalkboard can be seen with the text "Exercise Date: 2-65". This seemingly places this film in February of 1965.

At precisely 41:33, a file dated "26/2" can be seen. I couldn't find a shot on the net because of how fast it is.

At around the 41:55 mark, a classified document is dated 19.9.65. This would seemingly place the film sometime during or after September, 1965.

At around the 1:08:24 mark, a car inspection sticker can be seen dated "5".

At around the 1:32:10 mark, a screen shows the date of "27 MAY".

So we can conclude that the film is set in May of 1965.

This film introduces a third man who uses the "Felix Leiter" alias.

 

[Dallas Kinard]

I watched 1967's "You Only Live Twice" this weekend. The only timeline evidence I was able to find in the film was the following newspaper date. This places the film firmly in July of 1966.

This film confirms that Ernst Stavro Blofeld is just an alias used by at least two different men by this point. The Blofeld in this film is clearly a different person than the Blofeld seen in all previous appearances.

 

[Dallas Kinard]

On the Blu Ray for "You Only Live Twice" there is a TV Special included that can be considered canon.



This film is dated 1967, which matches the copyright date. The "present day" scenes take place sometime after the events of "You Only Live Twice".

This short film is told nearly entirely in flashback from "Dr No" through "You Only Live Twice" showing both old and new scenes, some of which occur during the events of "You Only Live Twice".

This short film reveals that within the 007 universe, there are films made about the exploits of the real James Bond starring Sean Connery as the titular character.

At the 6:43 Mark Tatiana Romanovas personal file shows a registered date of 9/9/50 and indexed date of 02/10/60. the file also reveals her date of birth being 7/1/36.

At the 22:43 Mark, the shooting date can be seen as "27•9•66". This means only two months have passed since the real events of "You Only Live Twice".

It is revealed during the present day scenes that the next James Bond movie is titled "On Your Majesty's Secret Service" which is also the title of an Ian Fleming novel seen during these scenes.

I was unable to find HD screencaps online for all of these, but on the Blu Ray this special is in 1080p.

 

[Dallas Kinard]

This weekend I watched "On Your Majesty's Secret Service". This one was packed with dates and evidence for placement!

In the opening scene, after James Bond rescues a woman from drowning and fights a group of mooks, the woman drives away. He faces the camera and says "This never happened to the other fella", a reference to the previous 007. This line establishes that there are at least two 007 agents that use the name "James Bond". The name "James Bond" is likely an alias. I understand this isn't a popular stance, but I think the films themselves prove it due to the evidence in them. We will get more into this in future installments of the franchise.

At around the 21:05 mark a wall calendar can be seen, but it's impossible to make out the month and year.



At the 22:06 mark a calendar is clearly and deliberately focused in on and shows "Setembro 1969". it's then stated that it's the 13th of the month.




At the 42:34 mark, a letter dated "12th June, 1969" is focused on.




At the 42:40 mark another letter is seen dated "30th July, 1969".



At the 43:04 mark another letter is seen dated "3rd, August 1969".



At the 45:17 mark another letter dated "9th June, 1969" can be seen focused on.



At around the 48:22 mark, a newspaper dated "Friday December 5 1969" can be seen.



At the 1:40:32 mark, a calendar is visible, but it's difficult to tell which month and year it is.



At James Bond's wedding, "M" discusses with Marc-Ange Draco "that bullion job in November of 1964" which references "Goldfinger" and also places that film in November of 1964.

From IMDB:

At the wedding, Draco and M discuss an occasion where M's department cost Draco three men. M says, "Ah, yes, November 1964 - the bullion job." This seems to be a reference to Goldfinger (1964), implying Draco was once in league with Auric Goldfinger. But if the writers intended this, they made wrong allusions: 1) M alluded to Draco getting away with a large portion of the job while nothing was stolen; and 2) it's cold in Kentucky by November yet Goldfinger's battle was filmed with obvious summer scenery.

At the 2:19:46 mark, James Bond's car inspection sticker shows the date of "NOV69". Since this scene is in late December of 1969, the inspection sticker must be out of date.



James Bond and Ernst Blofeld don't recognize each other. This adds credence to the idea that Blofeld is a name used by multiple men, similar to James Bond. More on this idea as we continue.



With all of that said, this film spans a few months of time. It starts around September of 1969 and then ends in December of 1969.

 

[Dallas Kinard]

Over the weekend I watched the seventh Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever". Here are my findings.

It is stated that James Bond has been on holiday ("You've been on holiday, I understand."). This could explain this 007's absence from the last film. The film also picks up in Japan, where we last saw the Connery Bond. It is my understanding that this Bond has been living in Japan for the last five years (1966 - 1971). If you recall, he got married in that last film. I like to think he took an extended leave to possibly live a simple life in Japan with his new wife. The Lazenby 007 took over for him (at least for a couple of years after "You Only Live Twice"). After the events of "On Your Majesty's Secret Service", MI6 called Connery back into duty to track down Blofeld and avenge what happened to Lazenby (who possibly retired after his wife's death).



Another man going by the Felix Leiter alias debuts in this film. This would be the fourth since "Dr. No".



By the time of this film, Ernst Stavro Blofeld began creating identical decoys of himself using plastic surgery. It is still unknown who the real Ernst Stavro Blofeld is by this point. Since "Dr. No", this is the fourth individual to use the Blofeld alias.



At around the 10:13 mark a March 1971 calendar can be seen on the wall.



At the 19:27 mark a passport can be seen with a birthday of 15.4.1932.



The Aston Martin DBS that was used by the previous 007 can be seen in Q's lab. The vehicle can be seen in the background of the Q-Branch workshop being fitted with missiles of some kind as James Bond talks with Q on the telephone.



At the 1:19:03 mark, a license plate renewal date of DEC 71 can be seen.



Professor Doctor Metz's security pass is dated 7/5/71. according to the book "The Man With The Golden Eye: Designing The James Bond Films".

So I think we can conclude that the film spans from March to July of 1971. This means it's been five years since we the audience has seen the original 007 (1966's "You Only Live Twice").