The James Bond Fan Club Newsletter Jan. 2013

Newsletter                                               January 2013

Official 007 Documentary Released One of the big highlights of late January for Bond enthusiasts everywhere was undoubtedly the DVD release on January 28 of the excellent and well-made documentary Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007, directed by the award-winning Stevan Riley. The documentary, which received a brief cinema release in selected cinemas in the UK in the month before the November premiere of Skyfall, tells the truly fascinating story of the early relationship between James Bond author Ian Fleming and the Bond producers Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and Harry Saltzman. It explores the trials and tribulations of finally getting the Bond novels on the big screen, and contains some candid and surprisingly revealing interviews with a host of people who have been involved in the production of the 007 franchise over the last 50 years, including the former Bond stars George Lazenby, Sir Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and - last but not least - the current 007 Daniel Craig. Apart from some archive footage, Sir Sean Connery is notably absent, but still remains a key presence throughout the early story of the Bond films. Stevan Riley skilfully interweaves the background music and fictional scenes of the James Bond movies with historical insights into the real-life world of the production of the 007 franchise. Even though this is an officially-sanctioned documentary, there are also some welcome warts-and-all sections on the ‘battles’ between EON and Kevin McClory over ownership of the Bond character. All in all, the DVD is a must for all Bond fans. Find Another Way? Riley on Sir Sean When Everything Or Nothing was first released last October, there were some very interesting articles about the documentary in the British media, including some revealing interviews. One of the most fascinating of these interviews appeared in the Sunday Express in October, when the director Stevan Riley was interviewed by Henry Fitzherbert. At one point, Riley was asked about Sir Sean’s ‘absence’ from the documentary (Sean gave no special interviews to Riley). Riley said: ‘Some people think the film is taking a dig at Sean but he had every right to reply and I couldn’t have told his story any other way, even if I wanted to’. Riley said he is a ‘big fan’ of Sir Sean and he had tried numerous times to reach the 82-year old Scot, who is based in the Bahamas: ‘All I wanted was a chance to speak to him on the phone but it was just ‘No’, ‘no’, ‘no’. Maybe he felt he had said all there was to say’. Riley also said that Barbara Broccoli remained very fond of Sir Sean: ‘They always had a very strong connection ever since she was a little girl and was ill on the set of You Only Live Twice and Sean gave up his bed for her in his hotel. The door is certainly open from her point of view’. Something for Everyone Riley explained some of the purposes behind Everything Or Nothing: ‘The real questions are, ‘How has Bond lasted as long as he has?’ and ‘What are the human stories behind that?’ He said he was given a completely ‘free rein’ with the documentary: ‘I kept expecting to be told I couldn’t include things but if anything I was encouraged to go further’. At another stage in the Express interview, reflecting on the James Bond producers today and their approach to movie-making, Riley commented: ‘I really believe the producers are deeply attached to their talent and very protective of them’. Riley also explained that what the producers appreciated was that the success of James Bond ‘hinged on the character, not the actor’, as was proved by the extraordinary longevity of the franchise and the sometimes controversial decisions to suddenly drop actors and change direction: ‘They were visionary in that sense. This was long before the era of sequels and franchises in which the ‘property’ is the star’. Sky High: Adele to Sing Live at Oscars In a major coup for the 85 th Oscars ceremony, it was announced from Hollywood on Wednesday, January 23, that the British singer Adele will perform her highly-acclaimed theme song to Skyfall live on stage during the glittering evening. The ceremony is due to take place on Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood and Highland Centre in Los Angeles. The singer, who has also been nominated for an Oscar for the song, said it was ‘an honour’ to be nominated for the award and it was ‘terrifyingly wonderful’ to be singing in front of the people who have captured her imagination over and over again. She added: ‘It’s something I’ve never experienced and probably only ever will once’. Craig Zada and Neil Meron, the Oscars telecast producers, explained: ‘She is currently one of the most successful recording artists in the world, and we believe that her performance of Skyfall will be an exciting Oscar moment for audiences watching at the Dolby Theatre and on television screens around the world’. The JBIFC’s fingers are firmly crossed for Adele. Fleming is Forever: New TV Drama Announced Interesting news emerged in mid-January that the satellite and cable network channel Sky Atlantic will show a new TV drama later this year based on the life of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. The new four-part series, which was originally entitled The Man Who Would Be Bond, has the new working title of Fleming and will feature rising British star Dominic Cooper as the Bond author. Produced by Ecosse Films, the new mini-series will be written by John Brownlow and Don Macpherson, and directed by Mat Whitecross. Douglas Rae, the Executive Producer of Ecosse Films, told the media: ‘Ian Fleming’s story is as dramatic and entertaining as any of the Bond films’. Since its foundation in 1988, Ecosse Films has specialised in high-quality drama for both the cinema and TV, and one of its most successful cinema productions was the award-winning 1998 movie Mrs. Brown, which starred Judi ‘M’ Dench and Billy Connolly. Ecosse has also been responsible for various successful TV series such as Monarch of the Glen for the BBC and the recent 10 part series Camelot, which was transmitted on the UK’s Channel-4 in 2011. The Wife Who Loved Him A few days after the initial details emerged, some further bits of info were given to the media about the cast for Fleming. Three British newspapers in particular contained some interesting details on the latest casting decisions. It was confirmed that the actress Lara Pulver had been cast as Ian Fleming’s wife Ann. Three other key female roles will be taken by Annabelle Wallis, Anna Chancellor and Lesley Manville. Pulver is well known for her previous roles in the BBC spy drama Spooks (known as MI5 in the USA) and for a memorable one-off nude scene in the BBC’s acclaimed detective series Sherlock. The 32-year old said of her new role: ‘I am thrilled to be playing Ann, a real life high society siren worthy of Fleming’s finest fictional femme fatales’. The award-winning actress Manville will play Fleming’s strong-willed mother, while Wallis will portray Muriel Wright (an early love of Fleming, who was tragically killed in the war). Chancellor has been cast as the fictional character Lieutenant Monday, who will have all the qualities that Fleming would later put into his character Miss Moneypenny in the Bond novels. Ian Fleming’s real-life wartime boss at Naval Intelligence, Admiral Godfrey (who was reputedly the model for ‘M’ in the 007 books) will be portrayed by Samuel West, while Fleming’s famous brother, Peter, will be played by Rupert Evans. The new drama is being shot in Hungary, Britain and Jamaica. From Bassey With Love There was a nice New Year treat for both Shirley Bassey and James Bond music fans in the UK on Friday, January 11, when BBC-4 screened a welcome repeat showing of the documentary ‘Shirley Bassey: The Girl from Tiger Bay’, first shown in 2009. This gritty, and sometimes quite revealing, documentary included insights into Shirley’s work with Bond composer David Arnold, who helped co-produce her ‘comeback’ album The Performance in 2009. There was a ‘realist’ on-the-spot feel to the documentary, as the camera followed the discussions and heated debates between Bassey, Arnold and other composers over which songs worked and which ones needed re-writing. The sheer stress of the hard work that often goes into such projects was very apparent at times. Released in November of that year, this was Bassey’s first solo album of original songs for three decades. Bassey at the Beeb This documentary was followed an hour later on the same channel by the screening of ‘Shirley Bassey at the BBC’, a fascinating compilation of various singing appearances by Shirley, recorded by the BBC over the years and kept in their archives. These included a rendition of her iconic Bond song Goldfinger, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall back in 1973, and also Shirley singing Diamonds Are Forever on a stage outside Buckingham Palace in June, 2012, which was part of the special concert done for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. There was also a great sequence taken from the BBC’s ‘Graham Norton Show’ in 2009, when Bassey performed the very catchy song ‘The Girl from Tiger Bay’ in front of the live audience, a song specially written for her as part of her album The Performance. And who was that familiar face playing guitar in the backing group, just behind her (and thoroughly enjoying himself)? None other than Bond composer David Arnold! Earl Cameron Made a Doctor There was some excellent news on January 23. Actor Earl Cameron, who played Pinder Romania in Thunderball (1965), received an honorary degree from Warwick University in the UK, in recognition of a lifetime’s achievement. Earl, who was born in Bermuda, became one of the first black actors to break the unofficial ‘colour bar’ in the UK’s film and TV world in the 1950s and 1960s. In Thunderball he played the calm Bahamian assistant to Bond and MI6 in Nassau, using his boating supplies shop as cover for his real role. Sean Connery’s 007 was supplied with logistical help from the basement of Pinder’s shop, while he investigated the suspicious activities of Largo and SPECTRE on the Islands. As well as his Bond movie role, Earl Cameron had numerous other parts in British TV series, including Danger Man, Dr. Who, Lovejoy and Kavanagh QC. In 2009, he was awarded a CBE by the Queen. The 95-year old actor, who lives in nearby Kenilworth, was presented with an Honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) at Warwick’s Winter Degree Ceremony. He was described by the University awards body as one of four ‘distinguished men and women who have made important contributions to cultural, intellectual, social, economic or political life’. Earl told the local media that he was ‘delighted’ to accept the award, and said he has loved every moment of his career. He added: ‘It is quite an honour indeed and I must admit it came as a tremendous surprise to me to be asked’. He has been in over 40 films and has also, he said, done ‘a huge amount of radio and theatre work’. The actor attended the awards ceremony with his 77-year old wife, Barbara. All Time High: Celebrating Octopussy It’s quite astonishing for us here at the JBIFC to think about this, but this year will see the 30 th anniversary of the premiere of Octopussy (which took place on June 6, 1983), and various Bond websites are preparing to celebrate the movie, which was directed by John Glen, including ourselves. The premiere was the second ‘big’ premiere for the JBIFC after its formation in 1979 (we formed not long before the premiere of Moonraker), ‘big’ in the sense that various JBIFC members had followed the making of Octopussy very closely, visited the sets, met Roger Moore, and were able to attend the premiere in Leicester Square. Interestingly, the movie saw no less than three stars from Sweden with key roles: Maud Adams (in her second Roger Moore Bond movie), Mary Stavin and Kristina Wayborn. Our Swedish friends ‘From Sweden With Love’ (FSWL) certainly intend to celebrate the movie in style. It was the most successful Bond film since You Only Live Twice in Sweden in 1983-84, and FSWL carries regular updates on the still-glamorous Swedish Octopussy trio, along with news about all the other Swedish stars who have been involved with the James Bond films over the years, including, of course, Britt Ekland and, more recently, Ola Rapace (the dangerous henchman in the exciting pre-credit sequences to Skyfall). FSWL also have a wealth of other interesting information about the world of 007. Check out their website at: www.jamesbond007.se/english.asp Did You Know? The still beautiful 62-year old actress Swedish actress Kristina Wayborn (whose real name is Britt-Inger Johansson) was a former Miss Sweden in 1970 and one of her very early film roles was the part of Claudine in the telemovie Victory at Entebbe (1976). But it was Kristina’s acclaimed portrayal of the famous Greta Garbo in the TV movie The Silent Lovers (1980) that led to her real ‘breakthrough’ into international movie-making. Her Garbo role brought her to the attention of the James Bond producers, who cast her as Magda in Octopussy (1983). Bond Bits: Brief Items of News You May Have Missed Look up! Look down! Look out! According to a recent issue of London’s Metro newspaper, just off the coast in Key West, Florida, visitors and tourists can see and experience a real-life Thunderball style jetpack in action, called the ‘Jetlev R200’... The jetpack in question was apparently invented by Canadian James Bond fan Raymond Li back in 2000, and is now being marketed as a great tourist experience by the Jetpack Adventures boat company. Live and let fly?... Bonding with Boyd: new James Bond author William Boyd was interviewed in the BBC’s special Christmas edition of its listings magazine Radio Times (December 22 – January 4 issue). The interview, mainly designed to publicise his new two-part spy drama Restless (shown on the BBC over Xmas), also touched upon the world of 007... Boyd, still playing his cards very close to his chest about his own forthcoming Bond novel (due in autumn, 2013), did admit at one point that he had deliberately avoided going to see Skyfall. He argued that James Bond had been incorrectly portrayed by film-makers... When he was announced as the new Bond author by the Fleming Estate on April 11, 2012, Boyd made it clear that his (still yet untitled) 007 adventure would mark a return to ‘classic’ Bond. The new novel, he added, will be set in 1969... Bond fans were given a special treat in the UK on New Year’s Day (January 1) when Sky’s ‘007’ channel returned. The first film to be shown (at 8.00am in the morning!) was Goldfinger (1964). But it was a great film to cure that post New Year’s Eve hangover. The first day also included a special documentary at 7.00pm, called ‘Bond’s Greatest Moments’... For those without access to the special channel, the same documentary was shown again the next day (January 2) in the evening on Sky 1... Interestingly, the same evening (January 2), sharp-eyed Bond enthusiasts could also see former Bond woman Caroline Munro, who played Naomie in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). She had a small role in the crime drama Midsomer Murders, shown at 8.00pm on the UK’s ITV-1 channel. Caroline played an evil priestess... Charles Dance, who had a small role in For Your Eyes Only (1981), and once played Bond author Ian Fleming in the British telemovie Goldeneye (1989) for Anglia Television, was interviewed in London’s Metro newspaper on January 7. He is soon to be seen in Sky Atlantic’s Common Ground, which starts in February... When the 66-year old actor and director was asked about his future directing plans, Dance responded that he has some projects, and added that he ‘got a lot of energy’ from directing Ladies in Lavender, his 2004 film with Maggie Smith and Judi ‘M’ Dench... Actress Mini Driver, who had a small role in Goldeneye (1995), braved a particularly cold evening in central London to attend the premiere of the comedy I Give It A Year in Leicester Square in on Thursday January 24. Driver attended along with her co-star Rose Byrne. The movie also stars Rafe Spall, Stephen merchant, Jason Flemyng, and Olivia Coleman... Meanwhile, over in America, former Bond woman Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) wore a striking gold headband when she attended the premiere in Los Angeles of her latest movie Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters... The movie also stars Jeremy Renner and Famke Janssen (Xenia Onatopp from Goldeneye). In the new movie, the two characters from the Brothers Grimm story have now become sword-wielding action heroes (played by Arterton and Renner), who track and kill witches across the world... What’s this? The MI6 Quartermaster and Jinx together in the same movie? Ben Whishaw, who was the new ‘Q’ in Skyfall, is one of the stars alongside Halle Berry (Jinx in Die Another Day) and an all-star cast in David Mitchell’s new epic Cloud Atlas, which goes on general release in the UK on February 22... Daniel Craig’s wife Rachel Weisz looked stunning on the evening of January 7 when she attended the ceremony to pick up the New York Film Critics Circle Award for her leading role in the British movie The Deep Blue Sea. She was joined at the ceremony in Manhatten by a smartly-suited Daniel... Many congratulations to the singer Adele, who picked up a very well-deserved Golden Globe Award in Hollywood for Best Original Song for her haunting theme to Skyfall... Daniel Craig also attended the Golden Globes ceremony and sat at the same table as Adele, along with his wife Rachel Weisz. Rachel had been nominated for the Best Actress in a Drama award for her acclaimed role in The Deep Blue Sea. Weisz can next be seen in the new Disney movie Oz: The Great and Powerful, due to hit screens in March, 2013... Daniel was spotted going to the gym and having some well-earned relaxation time in New York recently after completing his final publicity work for Skyfall, after it opened in China, its final major global market... The 007 star is said to be preparing for the new George Clooney-directed movie The Monuments Men, which is about a special British and American taskforce charged with recovering valuable artwork stolen by the Nazis in World War Two. The movie is due to start filming on March 1, 2013, in Germany, Austria, France, and Britain...