GeorgeLazenby Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Shelf Life: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Filed under: Fandom », Shelf Life »
While the majority of Cinematical's "Shelf Life" columns thus far have targeted specific releases that relate to new films, the truth is that we came up with this series so that we could go back and watch movies we wanted to see, whether it was to experience them for the first time after an eon of reactions and expectations, or just to see whether we were the same people we were when we first saw them, or just maybe, to champion an overlooked gem that disappeared into the ether after its initial release. This week's selection, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, falls into the third category, and we're happy to revisit it instead of some completely random movie that most folks already know they like.
The Facts: Directed by Peter Hunt, who previously edited three of the earlier films in the series, On Her Majesty's Secret Service marked the arrival of actor George Lazenby in the already-iconic role of James Bond. Lazenby notably only played the character one time, refunding money he was paid to appear in the next installment, Diamonds Are Forever, and according to the actor, declining to reprise the role because he thought the character was out of touch with modern audiences by the start of the 1970s. Meanwhile, other rumors swirled around his departure, including friction with the producers, but the film nevertheless ranked as another hit for the franchise, pulling in some $87 million worldwide.
Cinematical (Double-O) Seven: Best Last Lines
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », MGM », Sony », Fandom », Cinematical Seven », James Bond », Remakes and Sequels », Daniel Craig »
Even as the franchise began to shed staples with 2006's Casino Royale and tomorrow's Quantum of Solace, the James Bond series is still known for several keystones across twenty other films: girls, gadgets, guns, martinis, silhouettes of female figures thrusting about during the credits, and so on. Some would say that these were the traditions that helped lead James Bond down the path that would end in 2002's Die Another Day, which some would say made them want to take a top hat to their own throats. (Me? I didn't hate it.)
Among these recurring touches were the last lines, often cheeky turns of phrase that seemed to suggest that everything was going to be just fine between Commander Bond and that chick who we'd never see or hear about ever again. So, out of twenty-one films, I humbly offer up my picks for the seven best of the bunch. I'll leave you to find out if Quantum ends more along the lines of Royale's "The name's Bond... James Bond", or with something a bit sexier...
Jason Bourne vs. James Bond: Who's the More Super Spy?
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », Universal », James Bond », Remakes and Sequels », Hold the 'Fone », Daniel Craig », Summer Movies »
James Bond -- when played by Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan and now Daniel Craig (and a bit less so when played by Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby) -- has long been the gold stanard by which all other cinematic spies have been judged. He's smooth, aloof, quick-witted and charming. Guys want to be like him and women with names like Pussy Galore want to sleep with him. But these days, 007 has some serious competition from a more reserved, grittier and -- dare we say -- more likeable amnesiac spy named Jason Bourne (Matt Damon).
When The Bourne Identity came along in 2002, it pretty much reinvented the action-spy genre, placing its hero, Jason Bourne, squarely in the real world (where things like Bond's invisible car do not exist) and dealing with the unheard of (in the Bond world, at least) issues of moral accountability, character metamorphosis and even vulnerability. Clearly influenced by his neophyte rival, a new Bond was born in 2006's Casino Royale, with Daniel Craig stepping into the tux of a more down-to-earth, relatable and gadget-free 007. Even so, the gap between these two men remains enormous.
From the cars they drive to the villains they battle to the way they fight to the women they bed, Moviefone compares the two most badass spies ever to grace a movie screen in a Jason Bourne vs. James Bond gallery. Check it out and then tell us: Who do you think is the more super spy?
The First James Bond Dies at 89 -- No, It's Not Sean Connery
Filed under: Classics », Obits », James Bond »
Barry Nelson, the very first actor to portray Ian Fleming's super spy James Bond on screen has passed away at the age of 89 according to a recent report in Variety. For years, if I wanted to wow someone with some trivia about a little known actor who played James Bond I'd whip a little info about George Lazenby on them. Lazenby played Bond once in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but Nelson's claim to fame was a 1954 made for TV adaptation of Fleming's novel Casino Royale, created as an episode of the anthology series Climax!. Interestingly, Nelson played Bond as an American, and pre-dated Sean Connery's first Bond film Dr. No by eight years. The Climax! version of Casino Royale is available as an extra on the DVD for the 1967 film of the same name.Shortly after graduating from The University of California, Berkley in 1941, Nelson became a contract player for MGM. He appeared in several films including Shadow of the Thin Man and Dr. Kildare's Victory before joining the army during World War II. During the war he traveled as part of a stage production of Winged Victory which in 1944 was adapted into a film in which Nelson shared the screen with Red Buttons and TV's Superman George Reeves. In the post-war years Nelson made several more films including Undercover Maisie and Time to Kill before starring in such early television shows as The Ford Theatre Hour, The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre, and The Philco Television Playhouse. Personally, however, I will probably best remember Nelson for his role of Stuart Ullman in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining.
Jeremy Renner Wants To Be An Avenger
Directors We Love: Jim Jarmusch
Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'
Shelf Life: Fight Club_thumbnail.jpg)
Watch: Famous 'Matrix' Scene Re-Created with LEGOs
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