New Continuity Theory!
Sweepy the Cat
Halifax, West Yorkshire, EnglaPosts: 986MI6 Agent
I now have a new continuity theory for the Bond films and it's all very simple. Bond is born in 1940 and his parents die in a rock-climbing accident in the early 50's and he is taken in by the rich aunt. In 1962 he joins MI6 and in 1966 he becomes a 00 agent. Then each mission goes in order of his age eg. Bond is 30 in OHMSS so that is set in 1970 and carries on till AVTAK in 1998. I think I've come up with a solution 
Post if any inaccuricies.
Post if any inaccuricies. 
Comments
DN - 32
FRWL - 33
GF - 34
TB - 35
YOLT - 37
CR - 38
DAF - 41
TLD - 41
GE - 42
LTK - 43
TND - 44
LALD - 46
TWINE - 46
TMWTGG - 47
DAD - 49
TSWLM - 50
MR - 52
FYEO - 54
OP - 56
AVTAK - 58
Otherwise I agree; continuity isn't much of a worry when it comes to Bond.
IMO, there are three Bond continuities:
The first continuity contains 15 Bond films - All of Connerys and Moores, and Lazenby's. All films happen as theatrically released, with two exceptions: DAF happens before OHMSS, and NSNA happens after AVTAK. So in that way, DR. NO starts this Bond's story, and NSNA ends it.
The second one contains 7 Bonds - Dalton's 2, Brosnan's 4 and Lazenby's. Why Lazenby's, you may ask. Reason is, Tracy's death is referenced in LTK and implied in TWINE, thus needed. So, OHMSS, slightly retconned to fit the Dalton-Brosnan events, starts this Bond's story, and DAD ends it.
The third continuity has started with Daniel Craig's CR, and will go on with QS in November...
So, what do you think?
Though you could argue Bond didn't want to return, either...
One could possibly argue that there is a continuity within each actors films, but trying to make Dalton, Brosnan and Moore into the same time frame can't be done.
The only real "continuity" is in Fleming's original novels. Even there IF's goal was to create one entertaining adventure at a time - not to "connect all the dots".
There is a wonderful book by John Griswold "Ian Fleming's James Bond, Annotations and Chronologies for Ian Fleming's Bond Stories" that does a very credible job of trying to tie the novels together. But even that is a daunting task - and the books were written a year apart starting in '51 through '64. Given the nature of his task, I'll bet Griswold himself looks more like Blofeld these days - having doubtlessly torn out all his hair trying to plug Fleming's contridictions together.
Trying to meld the EON films is impossible, since they never made an attempt towards continuity. DN and FRWL are linked by dialog and Sylvia Trench, OHMSS and DAF would seem to be connected, but only in that Bond is ruthlessly chasing Blofled at the beginning of DAF - really no different than OHMSS "Blofeld's become something of a must for me."
The only continuity the EON Producers ever wanted to achieve was for the audiance to accept whatever actor they had hired for the lead as "James Bond". To that end they estabished the well known (and hated/loved) set pieces to remind us we were watching a Bond film.
CR'06 really broke the mold by starting over, and dumping the "set pieces", going for a "new" Bond more in line with the novels. QOS appears to be a direct sequel, but it's too early to tell if there will be any "overt" tie-ins with the previous film.
While it's a fun excercise to try and make order from chaos, trying to directly connect 50 years of films, is a big challenge. I rather enjoy the inconsistancies, and think they add rather than detract from the series!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
CR for example can't be first because it's set after the cold war and has modern gadgets, whereas many early Bond films were set during the cold war. But at the same time, CR must be before all of the others as it's Bond's first 007 mission. Also, CR must come before GF, because he meets Felix for the first time in CR. Then comes across Felix again in GF - but this completely rules out Bond meeting Felix for the first time in DN!
Another continuity problem is Blofeld not recognising Bond in OHMSS even after the events of YOLT. Set after the book I know, but makes no sense in terms of continuity with the films.
Then there's also the issue of Bond suddenly changing appearance and age, as well as many other characters like Q, Moneypenny, M (who eventually changes gender
There are just too many continuity problems as it is to try and arrange some sort of order to put them in - and I have probably still missed many out.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Not much different from face to face communication!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Thus, two different timelines for the first 40 years.