Agreed.
I’ve been saying that for years. I mentioned over in the old forums: North by Northwest is a Bond movie told from the Bond girl’s perspective, with – no kidding – Cary Grant being the Bond girl 
Some average Joe (or Jane, in the case of the Bond girls) suddenly finds himself in the middle of a spy story (like, say, Honey Ryder or Christmas Jones or Madeleine Swann) without really understanding what’s going on and becomes the love interest of a secret agent…
Plus, Fleming was inspired to create the character of 007 after seeing GG in Hitchcock’s Notorious
Actually the first Bond film is Fritz Lang’s Spione (1928). I’m being only slightly facetious–lots of spy movie tropes have been circulating longer than we assume. Hitchcock and Fleming (and Lang) were drawing on a rich tradition of spy literature going back to the start of the 20th century. The Bond filmmakers undoubtedly were influenced by NBNW’s structure, but Fleming had already written most of the Bond books, and his hero was a government professional, whereas Hitchcock preferred innocent men drawn into webs of intrigue.
Could never of been the first Bond film,Grant was not British…Must I remind you 007’s…
I think you’ll find being from Bristol is a darn sight more British than that Irish bloke Pierce something or other.
Comedy gold!
Must I remind you to do your research before acting so pompous!
Sorry…Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904 – November 29, 1986) was an English-born American actor, known as one of classic Hollywood’s definitive leading men. He began a career in Hollywood in the early 1930s and became known for his transatlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He became an American citizen in 1942…Was considered but was not a true Brit and was 58 at the time and wanted to do one film only. Ole Albert B. was said at the time not really considering him anyway on these qualifications…