Did Roger Moore screen test for Bond?

Virgil37

The series is known for extensively testing the lead actor to play Bond.

However, in the case of Roger Moore, apparently he was just asked to do the next one. He was gambling with Cubby and Harry, and they just asked him, and told him to trim his hair and lose weight, other than that, it seems that he was just hired on the basis of his looks, and probably because of the Saint series.

The actor who stayed the longest in the part (12 years, seven movies) was not even screen tested.

Wouldn´t it be great to have a DVD with all the screen tests? I guess they could do it, it´s EON´s material after all. To see Pierce back in 1986 testing, or many unknowns. The bits of Sam Neil and James Brolin that surfaced are fantastic.

Thunderpussy

Here is a List of some actors who where apparently tested for Bond for Casino Royale

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MrMurdockk/news/?a=66285

arthur pringle

If they really looked at 200 actors for Casino Royale you'd think they might have found someone taller )

Mr Martini

Thunderpussy wrote:

Here is a List of some actors who where apparently tested for Bond for Casino Royale

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/MrMurdockk/news/?a=66285

Interesting. In that list I see one actor who's on a daytime soap opera. Daniel Goddard. There may be others, but I know he's on The Young and The Restless. I know not because I watch, because when I go over moms she's watching it. Seen him in the credits.

Moore Than

Apparently, there were nearly 400 candidates for On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Eventually, the five leading candidates (including George Lazenby) were auditioned. Click on the link below to see a series of photo's from those auditions.

http://life.time.com/culture/behind-the-scenes-at-james-bond-auditions/?iid=lb-gal-viewagn#1

Virgil37

it looks like sometimes they extensively test, like in OHMSS and CR, but other times it was Cubby´s choice. He wanted Timothy Dalton, and he wanted Roger Moore, and it´s likely that they either didn´t test or not as much. And Pierce was an obvious choice back in 1994, I don´t know if they tested anyone else (although I remember Liam Neeson was rumoured).

BIG TAM

On balance I'd say the film-makers have got it right every time. If Connery hadn't been cast in 1962 I could have imagined Richard Johnson doing it. He has a similar saturnine look. Richard Burton may have been interesting. He has a similar sardonic wit to Connery & like him, looks like someone not to mess with. But perhaps Burton's talents were better suited to that of run-down spy, Alex Lemas in THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD.

After seeing Hammer's SHE I thought John Richardson might have made a good 007 but had a rethink that perhaps his build was a bit too slight.

Moore doesn't seem to have had much competition in 1973. David Warbeck may have fared well in retrospect but in casting against Connery's machismo, Moore seemed the best choice. His personal friendship with Cubby however seemed to have blighted the producer's production instincts as Moore should really have been pensioned off by 1983 at the very least; 1981 ideally. Perhaps all those off-set games of backgammon were too much fun for Broccoli.

I'd never thought of Daniel Craig as a potential Bond prior to CASINO ROYALE, but I was pleasantly surprised at how commandingly he took the role by the scruff of the neck.

Thunderpussy

I'm probably totaly wrong on this But I do feel that, For most of the time
The Producers have an actor in mind for the role But to keep the studio/distributor
Happy they screen test a few (or a few hundred actors ) ) for the publicity and
to be able to say "Look we tested all these guys and ............ was the Best "
Am I the only fan who's amazed at the amount of actors who at some point bring up
" I was tested for Bond you know " during an interview. ) There must be
thousands by now.

Virgil37

BIG TAM wrote:

Moore doesn't seem to have had much competition in 1973. David Warbeck may have fared well in retrospect but in casting against Connery's machismo, Moore seemed the best choice. His personal friendship with Cubby however seemed to have blighted the producer's production instincts as Moore should really have been pensioned off by 1983 at the very least; 1981 ideally. Perhaps all those off-set games of backgammon were too much fun for Broccoli.

I'd never thought of Daniel Craig as a potential Bond prior to CASINO ROYALE, but I was pleasantly surprised at how commandingly he took the role by the scruff of the neck.

Agree, Moore should have done 4 movies, Moonraker should have been his last, but after such a hit Cubby was understandably reluctant to let him go. FYEO should have been definitely his swan song. Funnily enough, it almost happenned, they were looking for a replacement as early as 1982.

I wonder if Timothy Dalton could have stepped in the role in Octopussy. Perhaps too much humour for him. I can´t see Tim in OP or AVTAK, but they could have adapted it.
In a perfect world, there should be one Bond per decade: Connery, 60s, Moore, 70s, Dalton, 80s, Brosnan 90s, Craig 00s, but things are more complicated than that of course.

Moore Than

Virgil37 wrote:

Moore should have done 4 movies, Moonraker should have been his last, but after such a hit Cubby was understandably reluctant to let him go. FYEO should have been definitely his swan song. Funnily enough, it almost happenned, they were looking for a replacement as early as 1982.

I wonder if Timothy Dalton could have stepped in the role in Octopussy. Perhaps too much humour for him. I can´t see Tim in OP or AVTAK, but they could have adapted it.
In a perfect world, there should be one Bond per decade: Connery, 60s, Moore, 70s, Dalton, 80s, Brosnan 90s, Craig 00s, but things are more complicated than that of course.

I think the main reason why Roger Moore got the nod for Octopussy was the return of Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again. At the end of the day Cubby Broccoli was a business man. He knew he was in safe hands with Roger who was well established and popular in the role. Broccoli wasn't prepared to take the risk of putting a new actor up against Connery. Naturally, I am happy the way things turned out.

I don't know if Timothy Dalton would have been available for Octopussy. If not, then I think Ian Ogilvy and Lewis Collins were very likely contenders as they were rumoured to be in the running around that time.

Virgil37

Moore Than wrote:

Virgil37 wrote:

Moore should have done 4 movies, Moonraker should have been his last, but after such a hit Cubby was understandably reluctant to let him go. FYEO should have been definitely his swan song. Funnily enough, it almost happenned, they were looking for a replacement as early as 1982.

I wonder if Timothy Dalton could have stepped in the role in Octopussy. Perhaps too much humour for him. I can´t see Tim in OP or AVTAK, but they could have adapted it.
In a perfect world, there should be one Bond per decade: Connery, 60s, Moore, 70s, Dalton, 80s, Brosnan 90s, Craig 00s, but things are more complicated than that of course.

I think the main reason why Roger Moore got the nod for Octopussy was the return of Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again. At the end of the day Cubby Broccoli was a business man. He knew he was in safe hands with Roger who was well established and popular in the role. Broccoli wasn't prepared to take the risk of putting a new actor up against Connery. Naturally, I am happy the way things turned out.

I don't know if Timothy Dalton would have been available for Octopussy. If not, then I think Ian Ogilvy and Lewis Collins were very likely contenders as they were rumoured to be in the running around that time.

Sure, I forgot about NSNA. Then what´s a mistery is why he was lured again for AVTAK. Probably because OP did such good business. They always seem to try and repeat the formula of the last film if it was really successful.
I didn´t know about Ian Ogilvy and Lewis Collins, just James Brolin.

Thomo

I may be totally wrong but didn't they want Dalton for an earlier film and cast him but he turned it down as he said he was too young? not sure which one though??

Moore Than

Thomo wrote:

I may be totally wrong but didn't they want Dalton for an earlier film and cast him but he turned it down as he said he was too young? not sure which one though??

Timothy Dalton was first approached for On Her Majesty's Secret Service but turned the offer down because he was too young and thought Sean Connery was too good to replace.

Virgil37

Thomo wrote:

I may be totally wrong but didn't they want Dalton for an earlier film and cast him but he turned it down as he said he was too young? not sure which one though??

Yep, I saw an interview with Dalton to promote LTK .He said that he was approached three times: first in OHMSS, then around the time of Moonraker, and he said he couldn´t see himself in one of those space fantasies (probably they were casting FYEO) and finally in 86.

GordoLeiter

Virgil37 wrote:

Thomo wrote:

I may be totally wrong but didn't they want Dalton for an earlier film and cast him but he turned it down as he said he was too young? not sure which one though??

Yep, I saw an interview with Dalton to promote LTK .He said that he was approached three times: first in OHMSS, then around the time of Moonraker, and he said he couldn´t see himself in one of those space fantasies (probably they were casting FYEO) and finally in 86.

Gee they were really trying to give Roger the boot early lol

James Suzuki

I would really like to see a clip showing a lot of the screentests, like DC, TD, PB and the full Sam niell test

Virgil37

xboy614 wrote:

I would really like to see a clip showing a lot of the screentests, like DC, TD, PB and the full Sam niell test

That was my suggestion in this thread; EON could release a full DVD with the screen tests. It would be totally awesome. They did complete mini movies with key scenes from FRWL and OHMSS.

BIG TAM

Poor old Danny Craig's got enough stick in some quarters as it is. Perhaps EON wouldn't want to add fuel to that fire by showing a mediocre screen test. Craig himself admitted his test wasn't the best he could have done. I think they'd made their minds up on him more from LAYER CAKE, the screen test being just a formality.

But I agree I'd like to see the full Pierce Brosnan/Sam Neill 1986 screen tests.

Thunderpussy

Although not a screen test here's a short Video of R Moore as the Saint
pretending to be James Bond in 1963, and you'll recognise His American
friend.

http://youtu.be/2XyDNq0_l1U

Moore Than

Here is a video of Roger Moore as James Bond in 1964, playing opposite Millicent Martin. I will let Michael G Wilson explain.

Roger Moore as James Bond in 1964
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYkTwXAyOBU