JAMES BOND - BURTON WAS FIRST CHOICE BOND

Late JAMES BOND creator IAN FLEMING originally wanted Welsh star RICHARD BURTON to play the superspy instead of SIR SEAN CONNERY. Newly-discovered correspondences from the writer to his film production boss IVAR BRYCE revealed his true wishes, which were ignored by producers HARRY SALTZMAN and ALBERT R. BROCCOLI. Fleming wrote, "I think that Richard Burton would be by far the best James Bond." The letters also show Fleming wanted legendary film director ALFRED HITCHCOCK to direct the first Bond movie. In a cable to a friend he wrote: "Would Hitchcock be interested in directing first Bond film?"