James Bond filmography by Connery, was selected as the third-greatest hero in cinema history by the American Film Institute. When Sean Connery had been cast in November 1961, David Niven had been Fleming's choice for the role as the actor reflected his image of the character. In 1965 producer Charles Feldman signed Niven to play Sir James Bond for "Casino Royale", a film not made by Eon Productions. Connery and Peter Sellers had both turned down the role. Niven was 56 when he played Bond and his characterisation was that of an elderly man who had won the Victoria Cross at the Siege
David Niven in "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1936) at Warners, an Imperial adventure film starring his one-time housemate Errol Flynn. Niven was fourth billed in "Beloved Enemy" (1936) for Goldwyn, supporting Merle Oberon with whom he became romantically involved. Universal used him in "We Have Our Moments" (1937) then he had another good support part in David O. Selznick's "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1937). Fox gave him the lead in a B picture, "Dinner at the Ritz" (1938) and he had a support part in "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" (1938) directed by Ernst Lubitsch at Paramount. Niven was one of the