James Brolin Screentest

Bodie

Stumbled across totally by accident a screentest James Brolin did for Bond at the time of Octopussy when the producers thought Rog was standing down. Its on MTV Movie Blog Bond-a-thond 13 Octopussy (1983) if anyone wants to have a look. Interesting to watch. He's actually not bad. Looks good in the action bit. American accent too strong to pass for a brit.

There is also a review of Octopussy. Pretty accurate for my part and not particuliarly complimentary except about the stunts.

GordoLeiter

I didnt like his screen test at all, plus he looked alot like Rod Serling without his beard lol.

Blackleiter

Boy, am I glad that casting never came to pass! )

Le Samourai

I didn't care for him in the dramatic portion of the screentest, but I thought Brolin did a great job in the fight scene. He probably would have made a good action hero, just not 007.

FelixLeiter ♀

I can't quite make up my mind about it. I felt it started off ok, upped and downed through the fight scene but then really picked up for the dramatic portion at the end.

It has more made me reflect on what a Lewis Collins screen test would be like, after recently discovering he was considered.

Blood_Stone

His performance was a bit wooden, but the potential was there.

James Suzuki

I remember seeing it too, and snippets of Sam Neill's screen test as well... he would have made a good bond and he is from my home country as well

Bodie

I saw snippetts of the Sam Neil screentest as well and thought he was great. Apparently everyone on the team wanted him apart from Cubby Brocolli. I think he would have made a great Bond. He certainly came across a lot better than James Brolin.

Would also go with FelixLeiter007 I would have loved to have seen what Lewis Collins would have done with the part. I'm a big Professionals fan - thus the username. Don't think he got as far as a screentest. I remember reading an interview with Collins and he said he cocked up the interview with Cubby Brocolli and I got the impression he didn't get as far as actually doing a screentest.

Napoleon Plural

Word has it that Sam Neil was turned down because he would have looked too old in 10 years time, probably true, though Q in an interview said that he wouldn't even be alive in 10 years time - also true near enough as it turned out, sadly - though not from old age.

Mr Martini

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Word has it that Sam Neil was turned down because he would have looked too old in 10 years time, probably true, though Q in an interview said that he wouldn't even be alive in 10 years time - also true near enough as it turned out, sadly - though not from old age.

Is this the Sam Neill you're talking about?





Sam Neil is still alive.

Blackleiter

I think Desmond Llewlyn (Q) was referring to the fact that he (Lleweyn) would not be alive in 10 years. Sadly, he is no longer with us.

Mr Martini wrote:

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Word has it that Sam Neil was turned down because he would have looked too old in 10 years time, probably true, though Q in an interview said that he wouldn't even be alive in 10 years time - also true near enough as it turned out, sadly - though not from old age.

Is this the Sam Neill you're talking about?





Sam Neil is still alive.

Mr Martini

Blackleiter wrote:

I think Desmond Llewlyn (Q) was referring to the fact that he (Lleweyn) would not be alive in 10 years. Sadly, he is no longer with us.

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Word has it that Sam Neil was turned down because he would have looked too old in 10 years time, probably true, though Q in an interview said that he wouldn't even be alive in 10 years time - also true near enough as it turned out, sadly - though not from old age.

Ahhhh, that does make sense Blackleiter. Just misunderstood the wording. Thanks for clearing it up.

DangerMouse

Mr Martini wrote:

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Word has it that Sam Neil was turned down because he would have looked too old in 10 years time, probably true, though Q in an interview said that he wouldn't even be alive in 10 years time - also true near enough as it turned out, sadly - though not from old age.

Is this the Sam Neill you're talking about?





Sam Neil is still alive.

He doesn't look that old. Hell, he could've played Bond as late as 2002. I wonder if the producers thought the reverse with Dan Craig, thinking he would've continued to look young ten years after they chose him.

Blackleiter

No problem, my friend. Just trying to make myself useful around here! -{

Mr Martini wrote:

Blackleiter wrote:

I think Desmond Llewlyn (Q) was referring to the fact that he (Lleweyn) would not be alive in 10 years. Sadly, he is no longer with us.

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Word has it that Sam Neil was turned down because he would have looked too old in 10 years time, probably true, though Q in an interview said that he wouldn't even be alive in 10 years time - also true near enough as it turned out, sadly - though not from old age.

Ahhhh, that does make sense Blackleiter. Just misunderstood the wording. Thanks for clearing it up.

David Schofield

Even though I'm dubious about the sound coming out of his mouth - apparently Brolin believes Cubby would have let him play the part WITH his American accent! - Brolin seems young, fresh, fit and fully of energy.

Something which could not be said for the old-fart Bond du jour, Rog...

And as a kid in the early 80s, I'd always thought Lewis Collins would have been a good choice. Now, in older age, watching re-runs of the Professionals.... uuurrghh. He'd have been hopeless. A classless action man. Besides, didn't he fluff his screen test.... WHO DARE WINS?

James Suzuki

Sam's famous role was in Jurassic park.... 1993 methinks... he looked fine then, he's a great actor and would have played a great Bond

Le Samourai

Re: Sam Neil... The first film I recall seeing him in was 'Dead Calm' in 1989. I remember thinking at the time that he'd make a good 007. I didn't even know he'd been considered for the role at the time.

Bodie

Re Sam Neill if you can watche a low budget movie called Hostage (not to be confused with the Bruce Willis movie). Neill plays an MI6 hitman. Enjoyable enough movie in its own right but gives an indication of what he would have done with Bond.

zaphod

Bodie wrote:

Re Sam Neill if you can watche a low budget movie called Hostage (not to be confused with the Bruce Willis movie). Neill plays an MI6 hitman. Enjoyable enough movie in its own right but gives an indication of what he would have done with Bond.

What kind of Bond do you think he would have been based upon his performance. I have always assumed that he would have been very light and Moore-like based purely upon how he looks ( not hard enough to my mind, and a little lacking in stature and gravitas) would love to know how he came across to you.

David Schofield

zaphod wrote:

Bodie wrote:

Re Sam Neill if you can watche a low budget movie called Hostage (not to be confused with the Bruce Willis movie). Neill plays an MI6 hitman. Enjoyable enough movie in its own right but gives an indication of what he would have done with Bond.

What kind of Bond do you think he would have been based upon his performance. I have always assumed that he would have been very light and Moore-like based purely upon how he looks ( not hard enough to my mind, and a little lacking in stature and gravitas) would love to know how he came across to you.

Best Neill for Bond auditon is, of course, REILLY ACE OF SPIES.

Saw his as John Rennie in HOSTAGE years ago. Cheap movie and the character lacked Bondian style, IIRC

And his Damien in OMEN III shows what he might have done with the ruthless, dark elements of the Bond character, all wrapped up in a natural arrogant self-confidence.