James Bond & Bond Girls Discussion Thread

[Greenman]

Two items spotted in today's papers and online.
Firstly Spectre was named best British thriller and best British film in the Jameson Empire Film Awards last night.

Secondly, from The Times obituary column, announcing the death of Anthony 'Tony' Dyson aged 68. He was a special effects technician and modelmaker who amongst other things worked on Star Wars, Superman and did the miniature spacemen with jet packs and laser guns for the space fight in the James Bond film 'Moonraker'.

[Greenman]

Spotted today Daniel Craig singing(sort of) Happy Birthday to Her Majesty the Queen - and the 2012 sequence with him and the Queen was also shown during The Queen at 90-live from Windsor Castle this morning on BBC1-catch it on BBC IPlayer.

Sad news of the death of Bond director Guy Hamilton at 93. First Ken Adam now Guy, the Bond family loses another member but what a life he had and was instrumental in some of the best Bond films ever and also directed other great films including my favourite 'Battle of Britain'
More here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36101644

[scorpion_111151]

Originally Posted by Greenman

Interesting story told by George Martin. He was invited out to meet Harry Saltzman when the film Live and Let Die was being made. He said to George that he had some ideas of who could sing the main tune and mentioned Aretha Franklin amongst others. However, Sir George argued that Paul McCartney was the one he wanted to do the song. Something tells me that the song, had it been done by anyone else, just wouldn't be the same as we know today.

Presumably a compromise was agreed by having Brenda Arnau reprise the song in the nightclub sequence.

[Greenman]

It would appear, according to a report in the Guardian, that Daniel Craig was offered over £60m to do another two Bond films but it was not what he wanted and he has already signed up to do a 20-episode drama called Purity, so it means that there will be a new James Bond in the future-whether it will be Tom Hiddleston or Idris Elba or as I reckon, someone completely off radar, remains to be seen. Watch this space.

[Greenman]

Sad to report the death of Herbert W 'Burt' Kwouk O.B.E. who whilst more well-known for his role as Cato, the karate using manservant of Inspector Clouseau(Peter Sellers) in the Pink Panther series of films but also appeared in three early James Bond films. He played Mr Ling in 'Goldfinger', Spectre Agent No.3 in 'You Only Live Twice' and in the 1967 dire spoofCasino Royale he was a Chinese general. He was also in BBC drama series 'Tenko' set in a women's prisoner-of-war camp during the War in Japan as Major Yamouchi and later he played a Northern character Entwhistle in the long-running situation comedy series 'Last of the Summer Wine' He was 85.

[Greenman]

It would seem that Aidan Turner has ruled out the possibility of him being the new James Bond as he has agreed with the BBC to make a third series of Poldark, which is due to air it's second season this Autumn. The new favourite is apparently James Norton, the man who played the serial killer in the hit BBC drama series 'Happy Valley' (I can't remember the name) and earlier this year was in the BBC's epic retelling of the classic War & Peace I am not sure if he is the right choice, there are others like Tom Hiddleston(mind you he is pre-occupied with Taylor Swift for now ) or even Idris Elba, but sooner or later they will announce who it is and when the next Bond film will start filming.

[Mr Bond]

I never see that one before....

[Mr Bond]

Originally Posted by Greenman

It would seem that Aidan Turner has ruled out the possibility of him being the new James Bond as he has agreed with the BBC to make a third series of Poldark, which is due to air it's second season this Autumn. The new favourite is apparently James Norton, the man who played the serial killer in the hit BBC drama series 'Happy Valley' (I can't remember the name) and earlier this year was in the BBC's epic retelling of the classic War & Peace I am not sure if he is the right choice, there are others like Tom Hiddleston(mind you he is pre-occupied with Taylor Swift for now ) or even Idris Elba, but sooner or later they will announce who it is and when the next Bond film will start filming.

With all my respect, Greenman, you know all these names are just rumors, often made by the players in question, or their agents, just to talk about them, to create the buzz, or by journalists, to sell paper!
Some have really met Miss Broccoli. I have cited one or two names given by my contacts in Pinewood, or at Eon. But we can not know. They can be friends with the producer, without being on the list.
Since 1962, when I saw my first Bond movie, and between each film, rumors come ! I read a full of names in my life, sometimes the craziest (Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, etc ....)!
And finally, Eon has always chosen the one we least expected. (This time, only one thing is sure, it will not be Elba). Phew!

[Greenman]

Oh yes I am sure she will find someone that no-one even thought of, but in this country there is always speculation when something like this happens - after all as you say it sells newspapers. Did you know that Anthony Hopkins turned down two roles in James Bond films. The first was Augustus Trevelyan a sixty-something ex MI6 chief (that went to Sean Bean who became a former 00 agent Alec Trevelyan) and the second one he was offered was Elliot Carver in 'Tomorrow Never Dies' but that eventually went to Jonathan Pryce. Alan Rickman, who died last year, was also offered the role of Alec Trevelyan but he too turned it down.

[rosestone]

Originally Posted by Greenman

Did you know that Anthony Hopkins turned down two roles in James Bond films. The first was Augustus Trevelyan a sixty-something ex MI6 chief (that went to Sean Bean who became a former 00 agent Alec Trevelyan) and the second one he was offered was Elliot Carver in 'Tomorrow Never Dies' but that eventually went to Jonathan Pryce.

As I understand it, Hopkins even filmed for a couple of days in the role of Elliot Carver but walked away from the role because he was not happy with how under-prepared the production was. They had to get Jonathan Pryce in as a last minute replacement after filming had already started.

Which might go some way to explain why the character and film are rather insipid, especially from a quality actor like Pryce.

That's what I remember hearing at the time, anyway.