how an onscreen james bond should be played

Atmosphere: To my mind, the greatest danger in this series is too much Englishness. There should, I think, be no monocles, moustaches, bowler hats or bobbies or other “Limey” gimmicks. There should be no blatant English slang, a minimum of public-school ties and accents, and subsidiary characters should, generally speaking, speak with a Scots or Irish accent.

James Bond: Bond is a blunt instrument wielded by a government department. He is quiet, hard, ruthless, sardonic, fatalistic. In his relationships with women he shows the same qualities as he does in his job. He likes gambling, golf and fast motor cars.
-Ian Fleming, via 007.com

designing 007

In collaboration with EON Productions and with unprecedented access to their archives, Designing 007 will be a multi-sensory experience, immersing audiences in the creation and development of Bond style over its auspicious 50 year history.

It will explore the craft behind the screen icons, the secret service and villains, tailoring and costumes, set and production design, automobiles, gadgets and special effects, graphic design and motion graphics, exotic locations, stunts and props.

July 6th through September 5th, at the Barbican, London.

when life has even run out of lemons -2

When M. poured him three fingers from the frosted carafe Bond took a pinch of black pepper and dropped it on the surface of the vodka. The pepper slowly settled to the bottom of the glass leaving a few grains on the surface which Bond dabbed up with the tip of his finger. Then he tossed the cold liquor well to the back of his throat and put his glass with the dregs of pepper at the bottom, back on the table.

"There's often quite a lot of fusel oil on the surface of the stuff -- at least there used to be when it was badly distilled. Poisonous. In Russia, where you get a lot of bath-tub liquor, it's an understood thing to sprinkle a little pepper in your glass. It takes the fuel oil to the bottom. I got to like the taste..."
-Fleming, Ian. Moonraker. New York: Macmillan, 1955.

Don't think the movie versions ever did this. If you are a literary type this quote will be well known to you though. Not harsh atall, and taste really opens up as the cracked pepper sinks down after a minute. Provides a warm glow on the tongue. Tiny bit of smoke. Had been meaning to try this for years.

connery by leo fuchs

Connery on the set of Woman of Straw, 1963. ©Leo Fuchs. That film def' going in the queue. Country houses, Big Tam suited and booted, old geezers in tweed... #latetotheparty

dear santa...

Christies Lot 102. Sale Date November 25, 2010.

Walther air pistol held by Sean Connery as James Bond in the photo-shoot used for the main image in the poster and advertising campaign for the 1963 United Artists/Eon film From Russia With Love.

The air pistol, a .177 (4.5mm) Walther 'LP MOD.53' Air Pistol, Serial No. 054159, with 24cm barrel, blackened finish throughout, in original close-fitted Walther case with sight elements; accompanied by a letter concerning the provenance from the original vendor...
via Christies

It is an air pistol. Come on over after Christmans and plink cans off the deck with me. What, this? Just my authentic, actual 007 Walther. no bigs...

fridays are tie days -black knotted silk

Black knitted silk tie. Note, use a regular round-over-and-through knot; windsor knots are characteristic of SMERSH.

the life of ian fleming

-via Life.

Would love to see them bring back the supercharged Blower Bentley to the current Bonds.

A 1954 Continental Bentley with the "R" type chassis, the big 6 engine and a 13:40 back-axle ratio. Against the advice of Rolls-Royce, Bond had fitted an Arnott supercharger controlled by a magnetic clutch. Rolls said the crankshaft bearings wouldn't take the strain and withdrew their guarantee. -OHMSS

The rest of the blunt end is all knife-edged, rather ugly, boot. The long, grey nose is topped by a big hexagonal silver bolt instead of the winged "B". The paint is rough, not gloss, battleship grey and the upholstery black morocco. -Thunderball

from russia with love -helicopter scene

Above, the Macmillan Company New York, Library edition, published in 1957.
From Russia With Love (film release 1963) was the second of the EON James Bond productions; this particular novel was possibly chosen for adaptation as it was a current favorite of John F. Kennedy. Further reading.

Could go on and on about red wine with fish, the chess match, catches horizontal, gypsy fights, etc. but just looking at the helicopter chase here. That scene and the ensuing boat chase were filmed in the west of Scotland, an area called Argyll and Bute, standing in for the plot location of Turkey. The helicopter chase had to have been influenced by the cropduster scene in Hitchcock's 1959 North By Northwest, though we do get a pilot's eye view here as well and some great scenery. Years ago we went on a hike in this area and found a burned out helicopter... same one?? Maybe crashing is common here...


Ian Fleming and Sean Connery on set. Hadn't seen this photo...
* * * * *

The chopper was eventually fully restored and sold. Further reading.
Just because a grenade dropping chopper is after you,
no excuse not to tuck your tie in...


Turnbull&Asser turnback (cocktail) cuffs in full effect.
The plunky AR-7 described by Q as a .25. Modified from usual .22?
"I'd say one of their aircraft is missing."

penfold hearts

He looked sharply at Goldfinger. 'You play a Number One Dunlop, don't you?'

'Yes, of course.' A sixth sense of disaster wiped the triumph off Goldfinger's face. 'What is it? What's the matter?'

'Well,' said Bond apologetically. ''Fraid you've been playing with the wrong ball. Here's my Penfold Hearts and this is a Number Seven Dunlop.' He handed both balls to Goldfinger. Goldfinger tore them off his palm and examined them feverishly.

Slowly the colour flooded over Goldfinger's face. He stood, his mouth working, looking from the balls to Bond and back to the balls.

Bond said softly, 'Too bad we were playing to the rules. Afraid that means you lose the hole. And, of course, the match.' Bond's eyes observed Goldfinger impassively. -Fleming, Ian. Goldfinger. New York: Macmillan, 1959. 80.

Penfold rereleased the Heart golf ball last year to coincide with the Ian Fleming Centenary, though you can dig up 1960's Penfold Hearts on ebay every so often. Beyond that though, the novel of Goldfinger is must-read. At the absolute very least, grab a copy in the library and read the golf match chapters.

quotable -outland

Marshal William T. O'Neil (Connery): There's a whole machine that works because everybody does what they are supposed to. I found out I was supposed to be something I didn't like. That's my rotten little part in the rotten machine.

This gritty 80's sci-fi is criminally underrated. Grim and darkly styled with a cameo by Steve Berkoff as a madman (no stretch there...). It is all about Connery though, going up against the machine of crooked management. The denouement spacesuit battle is a bit hammy, but everything up till then is quality "vision of the future" stuff.

'Nother quicky.
Security Sergeant Montone (talking to his number 2): We're talking about nuclear detonators here. You don't just "lose" them and then "find" them again. You lose your comb and then find it, but not nuclear detonators.


The trailer has not aged well, but would be remiss not to include it.

old jokes home

Q: What time does Sean Connery get to Wimbledon?

A: Tennish.

repost

Was listening to this record (yes record...) w/ the wee boys this morning so had to bounce it to the top of the posts... Sean Connery reads Peter & the Wolf. Gratuitous brogue action... Listen. The boy is just old enough to follow along, and using the turntable makes it seem like an occasion. The other side is a guide to the orchestra again narrated by Sean. "Thish is the shtring shecshion" etc... brilliant.

life archive -sean connery

quotable -diamonds are forever

Peter Franks (Bond): That's quite a nice little nothing you're almost wearing. I approve.


Felix Leiter: Ok James I give up. I know the diamonds are hidden on the body but where?

James Bond: Alimentary my dear Leiter.

BTW, isn't Felix a great name... tried to convince M to name our second boy Felix... shot down. Come on, Felix Fox... He'd be a total rake.

quotable -thunderball

Home Secretary: Your man, double-o-seven, I thought he was onto something.
M: I thought so too sir.
Home Secretary: He obviously has a highly developed sense of... shall we say drama.

eric tan -indiana jones

Nerd alert. If you bookmark /film you will have seen these already. I'm a sucker for this type of illustration, these by Eric Tan. He has other propaganda/mex influenced posters for Wall-e, The Incredibles, tons more. Indy4 did not happen...have wiped it from the memory.

quotable -thunderball

Bond: That gun. It looks more fitting for a woman.

Largo: Do you know much about guns, Mister Bond?

Bond: No. But I know a little about women.

bookmark -commanders club

Though never updated (2007 was the last time I think) Commanders Club lovingly details the minutiae of Ian Fleming's creation, that certain Scottish peasant named Bond. "A martini properly made. A holster worn well. A lighter showing the requisite amount of wear" etc.

Find out what Bond drinks where (Miller's High Life when in America) and wears when (Avoid anything gaudy or flamboyant or obviously expensive. President Truman shirts, for instance, are out of the question).

peter and the wolf -connery

Gratuitous brogue action... Listen. Have this on LP. The boy is just old enough to follow along, and using the turntable makes it seem like an occasion. The other side is a guide to the orchestra again narrated by Sean. "Thish is the shtring secshion" etc... brilliant.

trailer park -dr no (recut by robodan)

Modern recut of the Dr. No trailer. Robodan.