Shirley Bassey leads Oscars 50th birthday tribute to James Bond

By Piya Sinha-Roy and Tim Reid

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Dame Shirley Bassey earned a standing ovation at the Oscars on Sunday when she lead a tribute to James Bond's 50th birthday by singing "Goldfinger," the 1964 Bond theme song that launched her international career.

Bassey, 76, wearing a gold dress, gold necklace and gold earrings, appeared on stage following a film and music tribute to the Bond movie franchise, which began in 1962 with the first Bond film "Dr. No," starring Sir Sean Connery.

Last year, "Skyfall," the 23rd installment of the Bond series - the longest-running motion picture franchise in history - was released and became the highest-grossing Bond film, crossing the $1 billion mark at the global box office.

British singer Adele, 24, who swept the Grammys last year with her soulful heartbreak album "21," continued the Bond theme in Sunday's Oscar ceremony with her rendition of the Bond theme "Skyfall," which later won an Oscar for Best original Song. "This is amazing," a tearful Adele told the Oscar crowd.

Bassey has become synonymous with the Bond franchise, singing the theme songs not only for "Goldfinger," but 1971's "Diamonds are Forever" and 1979's "Moonraker."

The Welsh diva was preceded on the Oscars stage by actress Halle Berry, who appeared as Bond girl Jinx in the 2002 movie "Die Another Day," starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond.

"Tonight, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of James Bond in motion pictures," Berry said, adding that the music of the films "is as inextricably linked to Bond as the martini, exotic cars and Pussy Galore."

Halle, who won a Best Actress Oscar for "Monster's Ball" in 2001, was asked about her role as a Bond girl on the red carpet before Sunday's Oscars ceremony.