Examples of the Americanisation of Bond Films/Character/Dialogue?
Silhouette Man
The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,866MI6 Agent
We all know there was Jimmy Bond in the CBS Climax Mystery Theater 1954 TV production of Casino Royale of course, but what other attempts would you say were made to Americanise James Bond?
Here are a few that I can think of offhand:
Burt Reynolds was considered for the Bond role, as was Adam West for OHMSS.
John Gavin actually signed on to play James Bond for DAF before Sean Connery agreed to return to the role he had made so famous.
I'm sure we can think of many more in the Bond films, character or dialogue or anything else.
If so, I'd really love to hear from you. -{
Here are a few that I can think of offhand:
Burt Reynolds was considered for the Bond role, as was Adam West for OHMSS.
John Gavin actually signed on to play James Bond for DAF before Sean Connery agreed to return to the role he had made so famous.
I'm sure we can think of many more in the Bond films, character or dialogue or anything else.
If so, I'd really love to hear from you. -{
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Comments
I don't know that I would have wanted James Brolin as Bond. He has some qualities for the part, but it would have been like watching a nighttime soap opera.
As the Bond films wore on, though, I think they began to incorporate more elements that American audiences in particular wanted -- more car chases, more fist fights, more dimwitted women. The reliance on action and erosion of good dialogue and scene also seemed, to me, to be a concession to American ideals. By the early 1970s, the Bond films began to resemble the American spoofs -- Helm, Flint, Man from UNCLE, etc. -- more than they did the films that preceded them.
Although Richard Maibaum obviously contributed much to the Bond films, and there were other American influences in the productions, the wit and style in the Connery films always seemed more British than American to me. But by the Moore era -- and I know he was English -- the jokes were more American: obvious puns and sexual quips.
You should hear our impressions of Americans. In fact, you should still hear them.
What makes them distinctly British?
The humour
"She should have kept her mouth shut..", "yes, you bloody well would.." (Thunderball)
[Being bathed by Tanaka's women]
Tiger Tanaka: You know what it is about you that fascinates them, don't you? It's the hair on your chest. Japanese men all have beautiful bare skin.
James Bond: Japanese proverb say, "Bird never make nest in bare tree."
Not saying Americans don't have a sense of humour, but it is different to ours..
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
At least he was in the right country when he said that!
It makes sense in the context of being in America, though I'm sure they added it for the American audience as well.
I'm glad they have not said "Tuxedo" for the American audience. I can recall other American words used in Bond films, but I can't recall what they are at this moment.
Pffft, I'm British, living in the UK, and I say elevator rather than lift!
I think the AVTAK score sounds very American......I know it fits in with the film, just saying.
LTK also feels very American, like the American action films of the time, rather than the British spy feel of the other films.
How does the AVTAK score sound American? It sounds like classic British Barry to me. Do you think OP and LTK sound American as well?
I agree about LTK. It was made in America with a lot of American actors, so that contributes a lot to the American feel as well.
Yes, well I suppose that by this stage thew two have become somewhat synonymous! I still say lift though.
The last time you brought this up I listened to that line again and I have no idea what you are hearing.
btw: the delivery in TWINE us Brosnan's coolest
I did that. Brosnan's voice sounds thinner in TWINE. I also think his delivery in TWINE is better. I don't like it in GE.
I think the one from GE is just as good...
The British Calvin Dyson brings it up in this video. Perhaps it's easier to hear if you're used to hearing mostly British? It's around 11 minutes in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mte9HfYL_I
I don't think Pierce sounds American at all. His Irish accent comes out in certain scenes and this is one of them.
The scene in the Tiger helicopter when Bond says "i'm here! I'm HEEERE!", reminds me of the "WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE LIVING HEEEERE!" scene from Taffin. It's Pierce's delivery.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
It wouldn't have worked with the Beatles or Stones because we would have expected Bond to keep it on. The public wouldn't buy James Bond having the same opinion of the Beatles now that he did in 1964.
Are you asking me? The Beatles are one of the most loved bands by all generations today. Bond is known to have good taste, and I don't think most people would have trust in Bond's taste if he didn't like the Beatles today. In 1964, the Beatles were like One Direction is today. A lot of people like Sinatra as well, but most people can also admit that while his music is great it can also be corny.
Bond switching that off.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
To my ears Pierce tended to say 'Baaand' most of the time. He sounded less English as his tenure progressed.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/dec/07/james-bond-spectre-americanisation