Quick Questions re: John Gavin/American Bonds

Mister Biswas

To all,

Based on the info provided by those great documentaries on the Special Edition DVDs, I know about John Gavin and DAF, that he was actually signed to play Bond before David Picker and co. decided to reel in the big fish Connery.

I also know, however, that, on the LALD documentary, Tom Manciewicz and Guy Hamilton, when recalling the story of the casting of Bond for that film, spoke of the certain casting possibilities before Roger Moore officially signed on. Specifically, Burt Reynolds was mentioned in that DVD documentary. Then, Tom Manciewicz made an interesting comment, and I paraphrase: "Cubby didn't want an American. It would have been like casting an Englishman in a John Wayne part. It just wouldn't have worked."

So, if Tom's recollection of Cubby is correct, then why was John Gavin, who is obviously American, signed in DAF?

What accounts for the comment Tom Manciewicz made in the LALD documentary?

Would John Gavin have played the role with a British accent? (Although I have never read or heard anything about this in any book or documentary, my hunch is that John Gavin would have been the American Bond in an Americanized Bond adventure, much like Barry Nelson).

(NOTE: My apologies to the moderators if this has been the subject of any previous threads.)

Basilisk

I believe that at first they were considering the character of JB, if played by an American, to be American a'la Barry Nelson in the CR teleplay. They decided to keep the character and settings strictly British.

It is my understanding that when John Gavin was tapped for DAF he was to affect a British accent. They'd already had a Scot and an Aussie play him, so why not an American playing a Brit? I've seen John Gavin affect an English accent very plausibly in other roles, I don't think his casting was too much of a stretch. Burt Reynolds, on the other hand...

DrMaybe

Yeeesh, Burt Reynolds as Bond. Dom DeLuise as Bloefeld, Jackie Gleason as M, and Jerry Reed as Q? Sally Field as Moneypenny. A Bandit to a Kill? The Man with the Golden Stickshift. (stop me before I pun again).

Mister Biswas

Thank you for the replies. That John Gavin was to employ a British accent is very interesting. I am sure Tom Manciewitz and Guy Hamilton would have had fun with that scenario--Bond, portrayed by an American actor but with a British accent, is on a mission in America.

DrMaybe

Well,it would be tit for tat. Look at all the Brits that come here and do American accents.

jetsetwilly

That Gavin would have a British accent was by no means a certainty; DAF was very much designed to appeal to the US audience after the "disappointment" of OHMSS. Hence its US locations, its US cast members, and, in its early stages, plans to shoot it in Hollywood rather than at Pinewood. Gavin may not have had a full on Texas twang or Boston brogue, but he would probably have had a mid-Atlantic type accent, similar to that used by James Garner in his Octopussy audition on the DVD.

I'm only thankful it didn't happen, as I'm sure the series would have ended there and then: Gavin is many things, but "charismatic" is not one of them.

Hardyboy

That's James BROLIN, Jetset!

Anyway, the documentary on the DAF DVD (from a few years back--I don't know if it's on the most recent DVD) pretty well indicates that Gavin's Bond would indeed have been American. It was the return of Connery that mercifully (and pardon the pun) scotched that idea.

Barbel

jetsetwilly wrote:

...similar to that used by James Garner in his Octopussy audition on the DVD.

One of my favourite actors, James Garner- I liked his Philip Marlowe very much. Though I don't think James Brolin would have made a good Marlowe...

Edit: Blast, HB beat me in replying.

Mister Biswas

This is interesting. There seem to be some differences emerging. Some posts suggest that John Gavin was to affect a British accent. While other posters believe that the Americanization of Bond was to include an American Bond, with a full-fledged American accent. Very interesting!!

I wonder if there are any out there who are experts in John Gavin films. Perhaps they would know whether he had a workable British accent or not.
Also, are there any photos/footage of screen tests out there? If he was SIGNED to play Bond, then there must be at least test photos somewhere. B-)

John Drake

I watched the DAF DVD and it did seem to indicate as Hardy says that Gavin would be an American Bond. He was pretty suave though. And he seems to have made a rather dashing OSS 117.



Personally I would rather have had Gavin in DAF than the bored-looking Connery performance we ended up with.

jetsetwilly

Hardyboy wrote:

That's James BROLIN, Jetset!

D'oh!

Poor Brolin. First he loses Bond, then he marries Streisand. The guy just doesn't have any luck

Hardyboy

jetsetwilly wrote:

Hardyboy wrote:

That's James BROLIN, Jetset!

D'oh!

Poor Brolin. First he loses Bond, then he marries Streisand. The guy just doesn't have any luck

Plus his son has gotten an Oscar nomination and the kind of acclaim ol' Dad never got!