James Bond & Bond Girls Discussion Thread

[Greenman]

More on the Sky Atlantic four-parter coming soon. The actresses who will starring in the aforementioned drama. First Lara Pulver(Sherlock) will play Fleming's wife Anne, Annabelle Wallis(?) as Muriel Wright, Anna Chancellor as Lieutenant Monday, thought to be Fleming's blueprint for Miss Moneypenny and Lesley Manville who will play his mother Evelyn.

[richardoe]

I like the Bond films a nice bit of escapism. Dont know if anyones mentioned who did Ursula Andresses singing in Doctor No, it was Diana Coupland. Some of you may remember her from "bless this house" where she played Sid James wife. She was married to Monty Norman at the time and he of course arranged the music for the Bond films. And there was an article in the paper about the woman who dubbed Shirley Eatons voice in Goldfinger, apparently shes not been invited to a reunion of Bond girls. According to the papers Shirley Eaton wasnt happy at her being invited.

As for the Bond girls my favourite has got to be Diana Rigg, and OHMSS is one of my favourite Bond films.

[scorpion_111151]

Originally Posted by richardoe

Dont know if anyones mentioned who did Ursula Andresses singing in Doctor No, it was Diana Coupland.

According to Nikki van der Zyl's website, it was she who dubbed Ursula Andress both speaking and singing. As already stated, Miss van der Zyl has something of an axe to grind with the Bond producers, so you can take her claims with a pinch of salt if you wish.

[Greenman]

Yes I read about Nikki being frozen out by EON and Sir Roger Moore decided not to endorse her forth-coming autobiography-however, I am pretty sure that I saw Diana Coupland years ago interviewed about secrets of James Bond and she revealed that she did the singing whilst Nikki dubbed her, Daniela Bianchi and Shirley Eaton amongst others. In a way I feel sorry for Nikki, she is as much a part of Bond as anyone else.

[scorpion_111151]

Apparently Diana Coupland's version is featured on the soundtrack album, but Nikki dubbed the movie.

The reason she was excluded from the reunion may well be her constant reference to Shirley Eaton as the "cockney bombshell". Well I've checked out a few of Shirley's appearances on You Tube, and can't hear much wrong with her speaking voice. Googling "Shirley Eaton" and "cockney bombshell" brings up several results, most of which can be traced back to Nikki van der Zyl; she also seems to have taken a stop-watch to the film, in order to "prove" that her performance as Jill Masterson is longer than Shirley Eaton's!

[Greenman]

More awards for Skyfall, voted Best British film & blockbuster of the year by the Evening Standard Film Awards people. What a shame it was overlooked by the Oscar people but when you're up against TWO all American films(Lincoln & Zero Dark Thirty) and film about misery & deprivation(Les Miserables) what do you expect!

Advance notice: NEXT Friday on Sky Premiere there is a showing(and each evening for a week on that channel) Everything Or Nothing-the Untold Story of 007 I've heard this is really good and can't wait to see it.

[Greenman]

The Oscars will be honouring the James Bond films with a special 50th Anniversary special at the end of the month during the 6 hr marathon. Daniel Craig is expected to be at the film BAFTAs tomorrow night with his wife Rachel Weisz-they are in talks to appear on Broadway as a husband & wife in a Harold Pinter play.

[HugoHackenbush]

Shirley Eaton appeared in two episodes of "The Saint", including the first episode "The Talented Husband." I do not recall anything wrong with her voice, or that it sounded different than in "Goldfinger". Perhaps there is a mistake as to whom she dubbed.

Certainly you could see why Ursula Andress got dubbed, and Claudine Auger's voice was deemed to be too low, but this was revealed in the bonus content of the "Thunderball" DVD, even doing a comparison of the voices.

Needless to say the dubbing in the Bond films has always been very good. You still can't tell that Gert Frobe's voice is dubbed unless someone told you.

[Lurk_D]

The incomparable Shirley Bassey has been confirmed as performing during the Oscar tribute to Bond. Yowzah!

[Sam Spade]

I just received a Sci-Fi Movies special edition of SFX Magazine, they feature a poll of the top 7 Bond babes, one as chosen by guys, one chosen by women, here are the results....

Guys choice ~

1. Eva Green as Vesper Lynd ~ Casino Royale
2. Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore ~ Goldfinger
3. Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp ~ Goldeneye
4. Barbara Bach as Anya ~ The Spy Who Loved Me
5. Diana Rigg as Tracey Draco ~ On Her Majesty's Secret Service
6. Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead ~ Moonraker
7. Lana Wood as Plenty O'Toole ~ Diamonds Are Forever.

Girls choice

1. Honor Blackman
2. Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder ~ Dr No
3. Eva Green
4. Halle Berry as Jinx ~ Die Another Day
5. Grace Jones as May Day ~ A View To A Kill
6. Maud Adams as Octopussy ~ Octopussy
7. Barbara Bach

I can guess why Grace Jones did not make the guys list, in real life Grace appears very aggressive and dominant, but I am surprised Ursula Andress did not make the guys poll, it can't be an age thing because Honor Blackman did.