More than 50 years and six different Bonds, yet all with one thing in common – their licence to kill.

And never have three numbers meant more than these... 007.

In short they stand for ‘Action’ but in longhand they translate into Vodka martinis, Moneypenny, M, SPECTRE, Aston Martins, Pussy Galore, Blofeld, ejector seats, Shirley Bassey, John Barry, Ken Adam, the 2012 London Olympics, black tie, DJs, Honey Ryder, EON, Oddjob, Jaws, and ... the following five words: “The name’s Bond, James Bond.”

Need we say more?

And starting on Sunday, April 21, at the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema in Walton Street, Oxford, we’ll be screening Bond’s ‘six of the best’ – the best films from the stables of each actor who has ever played him, starting with Skyfall (Daniel Craig), GoldenEye (Pierce Brosnan), The Living Daylights (Timothy Dalton), The Spy Who Loved Me (Roger Moore), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (George Lazenby) and finishing on Friday, April 26, with Goldfinger (Sean Connery).

All films start at 8.45pm and as usual, tickets are half price to anyone presenting a copy of that day’s Oxford Mail (and yes, for the Sunday night opening of Skyfall, Saturday’s edition of the paper will be fine).

Finally, remember, this is a celebration of Bond, so if you wish, dress in the spirit of the occasion and one last thing, Martinis will be served upstairs in the bar.

Full details of the festival are in next week’s Guide....