Billing
Barbel
ScotlandPosts: 38,078Chief of Staff
One thing I've always been interested in is the billing in films, and of course particularly the James Bond films. Naturally the actor playing 007 gets top billing* and usually this is above the title. Only three times did the actor playing Bond receive "Starring" billing below the title (Connery in DN and FRWL, Lazenby in OHMSS).
As far as I know, the Bond films started the practice where the second actor listed gets billed as "Starring" rather than "Co-starring" or "With". This began with GF- Connery is billed above the title, then (originally depending on which location the film was being shown in) "Starring Honor Blackman" or "Starring Gert Frobe".
This has continued to the present day- after the title, the name of the actor playing either the villain or the female lead is preceded by "Starring"- eg
"Albert R. Broccoli & Harry Saltzman present
ROGER MOORE as JAMES BOND 007
in Ian Fleming's
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
Starring
CHRISTOPHER LEE"
Other films have since followed this practice- eg
"PETER SELLERS in
Blake Edwards'
THE TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER
Starring DAVID NIVEN"
but as far as I know it was invented by the Bond films.
As a side issue, since Brosnan took over as Bond the posters have generally downplayed the name of the actor and boosted the size of the "007" logo.
* I can only think of one instance where this hasn't happened (not counting CR67, of course), and it wasn't in a film- anyone care to make a guess?
As far as I know, the Bond films started the practice where the second actor listed gets billed as "Starring" rather than "Co-starring" or "With". This began with GF- Connery is billed above the title, then (originally depending on which location the film was being shown in) "Starring Honor Blackman" or "Starring Gert Frobe".
This has continued to the present day- after the title, the name of the actor playing either the villain or the female lead is preceded by "Starring"- eg
"Albert R. Broccoli & Harry Saltzman present
ROGER MOORE as JAMES BOND 007
in Ian Fleming's
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
Starring
CHRISTOPHER LEE"
Other films have since followed this practice- eg
"PETER SELLERS in
Blake Edwards'
THE TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER
Starring DAVID NIVEN"
but as far as I know it was invented by the Bond films.
As a side issue, since Brosnan took over as Bond the posters have generally downplayed the name of the actor and boosted the size of the "007" logo.
* I can only think of one instance where this hasn't happened (not counting CR67, of course), and it wasn't in a film- anyone care to make a guess?
Comments
AS IAN FLEMING'S JAMES BOND 007
or
ACTOR AS JAMES BOND IN IAN FLEMING'S FILM
Think I might need more of a clue on this one?
"Better make that two."
In the recent past.
I am curious why some actors will randomly have their character name included in the title sequence. Not sure if this has happened in the Bond series but for example could be like: Starring Lynn Holly Johnson as Bibi Dahl.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Yes, I find this interesting too. Fleming's credit was first moved to before Bond's name for TSWLM, which at the time I thought was because the film was (and was well publicised as being) not based on the novel. There was another change at this point too, with Saltzman's name vanishing and Broccoli becoming the sole presenter.
Fleming's credit was back in its usual position for the next film, then returned to before Bond's name for FYEO and has remained there since. I suppose it could be argued that Fleming's name only precedes the actual title when the film is based on a novel, however loosely, but then it should have been back in that position for CR in 06 which I grouched about here at the time.
When Walt Disney died, his company just added the word "Productions" after his name to their opening credits- "Walt Disney presents" became "Walt Disney Productions present". On Cubby's death Eon did similarly, but included their own name so "Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions present" is the current formula.
(that came out a bit smaller than I hoped, as the bishop said to the actress)
though not that in DAD.
Blue Hawaii 1961 did so with Elvis. Lost a bet!
"Better make that two."
I remember Blue Hawaii featured a drowning scene very similiar to the OHMSS pre-title sequence.
There is a TMNT movie where Splinter wears a lampshade on his head and does an impersonation of Elvis in Blue Hawaii. However, I still do not get the reference.
Anyway...
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Whoops sorry mate, took it for the lead actor. Oh well, I owe my mate a beer. And you! {[]
"Better make that two."
* I know many will argue that he was an actor at all, of course, but he was. Just not a good one. (And I say that as a lifelong fan of his singing.)
You Only Live Twice is the only Bond film to credit nobody other than the actor playing Bond on the poster — even the well-known Donald Pleasence didn't get a mention. Oddly, Tetsuro Tamba is listed below Akiko Wakabayashi in the opening credits and also below Mie Hama in the closing credits, despite having a much larger role than either of them (and despite none of their names meaning anything to Western audiences).
Similarly, some Bond films have credits that bear little resemblance to the size of people's roles. The credits of Thunderball and OHMSS are scrupulously fair, but in Diamonds Are Forever Lana Wood and Bruce Cabot get their names in the "also starring" category despite very little and virtually no screen time respectively, whilst Bruce Glover, Putter Smith and Norman Burton, all of whom had much larger roles, are buried among the also-rans.
That's the most egregious example I can think of, but in The Spy Who Loved Me Caroline Munro did well to get equal billing with Richard Kiel despite a tiny part, whilst the prolific Shane Rimmer, who has quite a bit more dialogue, is buried in both the opening and closing credits.
This is true of television as well.
RE Caroline Munro and Shane Rimmer, Ms Munro would probably have negotiated, because at that time she was still pushing for publicity in relation to the work she was doing. Mr Rimmer has done far more behind the scenes and with voice work, as well as the stage. A smaller credit would not be a problem due to the fact a certain puppet series and his writing had raised his profile. To some actors getting a credit makes a difference. What happened to Jeremy Wilkin? He is in TSWLM, he has minimal dialogue, but he was in the film.
I believe Ed Bishop and Mr Rimmer, and David Healy were uncredited in YOLT and DAF respectively as well.
Yet both Ed Bishop in DAF and Mr Rimmer in their later roles were credited.
Talking of billing, Barbel Pussy asked me to give you this.
(TB2 hands over a piece of paper with the SABS logo. It says "Barbel's bar bill" on it.)
I wonder why my Bank Manager is calling me...? ?:)
He said " You don't stand son, you grovel !"
( An Old Les Dawson joke ) -{
I was in the bank yesterday and wanted to speak with the manager about changes coming up in my financial arrangements*. I rather expected to be taken to an office but we had to talk in the open which I found very off-putting.
* Ok, so I'm old- it was to do with my pension.
"Better make that two."
Yes, though that's true for all films and depends on an actor's perceived box-office draw and negotiations, as TB2 says above.
But that was not the case in all the films, as well as the posters, the soundtrack albums, the cinema trailers and the radio promotional spots.
FILMS:
- Saltzman and Broccoli names appeared twice in each film introduction, first as presenters and later as producers, until Harry left the partnership and Cubby remained as the sole owner of the production company.
- Generally, in those nine films Salztman was credited before Broccoli both as presenters as well as producers; and also in the non-Bond film CALL ME BWANA.
- The only exception to that rule was GOLDFINGER, in which Broccoli was credited as presenter before Saltzman (but later in the main title credits the order reversed to Saltzman and Broccoli as producers).
- In the case of THUNDERBALL, Saltzman and Broccoli (in that order) were credited only as presenters, with Kevin McClory as producer.
- When Broccoli continued without Saltzman, the credits in some new copies of those films were changed so Cubby's name appeared before Harry's.
POSTERS:
- All posters credited Saltzman and Broccoli in the same order as the respective film. So, Harry's name was always first except in GOLDFINGER, where it said: "Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman present"... and later said: "Produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli". Also, in THUNDERBALL Saltzman and Broccoli were mentioned only as presenters, with Kevin McClory credited as producer.
In the non-Bond film CALL ME BWANA the presenters were Harry Saltzman and Harry Broccoli (in that order) but later in the credits Cubby was the only credited as producers whereas Harry was credited as associate producer (together with Stanley Sopel).
- From 1976 onwards some of the posters of those nine films reverse the order so Broccoli was always mentioned before Saltzman.
SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS:
- The credits in the album covers showed the same order as in the films and posters. That original credits order was kept in later re-releases of those albums.
CINEMA TRAILERS:
- DR, NO, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN credited Saltzman and Broccoli (in that order) both as presenters and as producers.
- GOLDFINGER credited Broccoli and Saltzman (in that order) as presenters, but reversed the order as producers.
- THUNDERBALL credited Saltzman and Broccoli (in that order) only as producers, and Kevin McClory as producer.
- YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and LIVE AND LET DIE credited Broccoli and Saltzman (in that order) both as presenters and as producers.
RADIO PROMOTIONAL SPOTS:
- Generally the radio spots mentioned "Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli" as presenters and/or producers.
- YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and LIVE AND LET DIE were exceptions to the rule, where Broccoli was mentioned before Saltzman.
- The only other exception was THUNDERBALL, where only producer Kevin McClory was mentioned.
Dr No:
Harry Saltzman & Albert R.Broccoli present
Ian Fleming's Dr No
Starring
Sean Connery
Ursula Andress
Joseph Wiseman
Jack Lord
Bernard Lee
Anthony Dawson
John Kitzmiller
Zend Marshall
Eunice Grayson
Michael Mok
Lois Maxwell
Peter Burton
Yvonne Shima
Louis Blaazer
Reginald Carter
WM. Foster-Davis
Margaret Le Wars
FRWL:
Harry Saltzman & Albert R.Broccoli present
Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love
Starring
Sean Connery
Also Starring
Pedro Armendariz
Lotte Lenya
And
Robert Shaw
Bernard Lee as "M"
And Introducing
Daniela Bianchi
With
Eunice Grayson
Walter Gotell
Francis De Wolff
George Pastell
Nadja Regin
Lois Maxwell
Aliza Gur
Martin Beswick
Vladek Sheybal
and Leila
Goldfinger:
Albert R.Broccoli
Harry Saltzman
Present
Sean Connery
In
Ian Fleming's
Goldfinger
Starring
Honor Blackman
As Pussy Galore
Also Starring
Gert Frobe
As Goldfinger
With
Shirley Eaton
Tania Mallet
Harold Sakata
Bernard Lee as 'M'
And
Martin Benson
Cec Linder
Austin Willis
Lois Maxwell
Bill Nagy
Thunderball:
Harry Saltzman and
Albert R.Broccoli
Present
Sean Connery
In Ian Fleming's
Thunderball
Starring
Claudine Auger
Adolfo Celi
Luciana Paluzzi
And
Rik Van Nutter
With
Bernard Lee as 'M'
Martine Beswick
Guy Doleman
Molly Peters
And
Desmond Llewelyn
Lois Maxwell
Roland Culver
Earl Cameron
Paul Stassino
YOLT:
Harry Saltzman
And
Albert R.Broccoli
Present
Sean Connery
In Ian Fleming's
You Only Live Twice
Starring
Akiko Wakabayashi
Tetsuro Tamba
Mie Hama
Teru Shimada
And
Karin Dor
With
Lois Maxwell
Desmond Llewelyn
Charles Gray
And
Bernard Lee as M
And
Donald Pleasance
OHMSS:
Harry Saltzman & Albert R.Broccoli present
Ian Fleming's
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Starring
George Lazenby
Diana Rigg
Telly Savalas
Gabrielle Ferzetti
Ilse Steppat
With
Angela Scoular
Lois Maxwell
Catherina Von Schell
George Baker
And
Bernard Lee as 'M'
And
Bernard Horsfall
Desmond Llewelyn
Yuri Borienko
Virginia North
DAF:
Harry Saltzman and Albert R.Broccoli present
Sean Connery
In Ian Fleming's
Diamonds Are Forever
Starring
Jill St. John
Charles Gray
Lana Wood
Jimmy Dean
Bruce Cabot
With
Lois Maxwell
Joseph Furst
Putter Smith
Laurence Naismith
Sid Haig
Norman Burton
Bruce Glover
Marc Lawrence
David Bauer
Desmond Llewelyn
and Bernard Lee as M
LALD:
Harry Saltzman and Albert R.Broccoli present
Roger Moore
as James Bond - 007
In
Ian Fleming's
Live and Let Die
Starring
Yaphet Kotto
And Introducing
Jane Seymour
Featuring
Clifton James
Julius W Harris
Gloria Hendry
Geoffrey Holder
David Hedison
Lois Maxwell
and
Bernard Lee as 'M'
With
Tommy Lane
Lon Statton
B.J Arnau
Earl Jolly Brown
Roy Stewart
Ruth Kempf
TMWTGG:
Albert R.Broccoli and Harry Saltzman present
Roger Moore
as James Bond - 007
In Ian Fleming's
The Man With The Golden Gun
Starring
Christopher Lee
Britt Ekland
Maud Adams
Herve Villechaize
as Nick Nack
Clifton James
as J.W Pepper
With
Richard Loo
Soon-Taik Oh
Marc Lawrence
Lois Maxwell
Marne Maitland
Desmond Llewelyn
James Cossins
Chan Yiu Lam
and
Bernard Lee as 'M'
TSWLM:
Albert R.Broccoli
Presents
Roger Moore
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond 007
in
The Spy Who Loved Me
Starring
Barbara Bach
and
Curt Jurgens
As
Stromberg
With
Richard Kiel
Caroline Munro
Featuring
Geoffrey Keen
Edward De Souza
George Baker
Lois Maxwell
Walter Gotell
Vernon Dobtcheff
Desmond Llewelyn
Michael Billington
Bernard Lee as 'M'
and
Shane Rimmer
Bryan Marshall
Sue Vanner
Bob Sherman
Sydney Tafler
Valerie Leon
Nadim Sawalha
Eva Rueber-Staier
Olga Bisera as Felicca
Moonraker:
Albert R.Broccoli
presents
Roger Moore
as
James Bond 007
in Ian Fleming's
Moonraker
Starring
Lois Chiles
Michael Lonsdale
as Drax
Richard Kiel
as Jaws
and
Corrine Clery
Featuring
Emily Bolton
Toshiro Suga
Irka Bochenko
Geoffrey Keen
Lois Maxwell
Nicholas Arbez
Bernard Lee as 'M'
And
Desmond Llewelyn
Anne Lonnberg
Jean Pierre Castaldi
Blanche Ravalec
Michael Marshall
Leila Shenna
FYEO:
Albert R.Broccoli
presents
Roger Moore
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond 007
in
For Your Eyes Only
Starring
Carole Bouquet
Topol
Lynn-Holly Johnson
and
Julian Glover
Featuring
Cassandra Harris
Michael Gothard
Jill Bennett
Jack Hedley
Walter Gotell
and
James Villiers
Desmond Llewelyn
John Moreno
Geoffrey Keen
Lois Maxwell
John Wyman
Octopussy:
Albert R.Broccoli
presents
Roger Moore
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond 007
in
Octopussy
Starring
Maud Adams
Louis Jordan
Kristina Wayborn
Kabir Bedi
Steven Berkoff
Featuring
David Meyer
Paul Hardwick
Robert Brown
Tony Meyer
Douglas Wilmer
Walter Gotell
Desmond Llewelyn
Geoffrey Keen
Lois Maxwell
Albert Moses
Michaela Clavell
and introducing
Vijay Amritaj
AVTAK:
Albert R.Broccoli
presents
Roger Moore
as Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
A View to a Kill
Starring
Tanya Roberts
Grace Jones
Patrick MacNee
and
Christopher Walken
With
Patrick Bauchau
David Yip
Desmond Llewelyn
Robert Brown
Lois Maxwell
Walter Gotell
Geoffrey Keen
Willoughby Gray
Alison Doody
Manning Redwood
Papillon Soo Soo
and
Fiona Fullerton
TLD:
Albert R.Broccoli
presents
Timothy Dalton
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
The Living Daylights
Starring
Maryam d'Abo
Joe Don Baker
as
Whitaker
Art Malik
John Rhys Davis
and
Jeroen Krabbe
Andreas Wisniewski
Thomas Wheatley
Julie T Wallace
Desmond Llewelyn
Robert Brown
Caroline Bliss
Walter Gotell
Geoffrey Keen
Virginia Hey
John Terry
Nadim Swalha
John Bowe
LTK:
Albert R. Broccoli
presents
Timothy Dalton
as Ian Fleming's James Bond
in
Licence to Kill
Starring
Carey Lowell
Robert Davi
Talisa Soto
Anthony Zerbe
Everett McGill
Frank McRae
Desmond Llewelyn
Robert Brown
Caroline Bliss
Anthony Starke
Grand L. Bush
Benecio Del Toro
Alejandro Bracho
Guy De Saint Cyr
Diana Lee-Hsu
Rafer Johnson
David Hedison
Don Stroud
Priscilla Barnes
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagwa
Pedro Armendariz
as President Lopez
Wayne Newton
as Professor Joe Butcher
GoldenEye:
Albert R. Broccoli
presents
Pierce Brosnan
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
GoldenEye
Starring
Sean Bean
Izabella Scorupco
Famke Janssen
Joe Don Baker
Robbie Coltrane
Tcheky Karyo
Gottfried John
Alan Cumming
Michael Kitchen
Serena Gordon
Desmond Llewelyn
Samantha Bond
and
Judi Dench
as M
TND:
Albert R. Broccoli's
Eon Productions Limited
Presents
Pierce Brosnan
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
Tomorrow Never Dies
Starring
Jonathan Pryce
Michelle Yeoh
Teri Hatcher
Joe Don Baker
Ricky Jay
Gotz Otto
Desmond Llewelyn
Vincent Schiavelli
Geoffrey Palmer
Colin Salmon
Samantha Bond
and
Judi Dench
as 'M'
TWINE:
Albert R. Broccoli's
Eon Productions Limited
presents
Pierce Brosnan
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
The World Is Not Enough
Starring
Sophie Marceau
Robert Carlyle
Denise Richards
Robbie Coltrane
Desmond Llewelyn
Maria Grazia Cucinotta
Samantha Bond
Michael Kitchen
Colin Salmon
Serena Scott Thomas
Ulrich Thomsen
Goldie
John Seru
Claude-Oliver Rudolph
and
Judi Dench
as 'M'
DAD:
Albert R. Broccoli's
Eon Productions Limited
presents
Pierce Brosnan
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
Die Another Day
Starring
Halle Berry
Toby Stephens
Rosamund Oike
Rick Yune
Kenneth Tsang
Will Yun Lee
Emilio Echevarria
Samantha Bond
Colin Salmon
Michael Gorevoy
Lawrence Makoare
John Cleese
and
Judi Dench
as M
CR:
Albert R. Broccoli's
Eon Productions Ltd.
presents
Daniel Craig
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
Casino Royale
Starring
Eva Green
Mads Mikkelsen
Giancarlo Giannini
Caterina Murino
Simon Abkarian
Isaach De Bankole
Jesper Christensen
Ivana Milicevic
Tobias Menzies
Claudio Santamaria
Free running stunts performed by Sebastien Foucan
With
Jeffrey Wright
and
Judi Dench
as M
QoS:
Albert R. Broccoli's
Eon Productions Limited
presents
Daniel Craig
as Ian Fleming's
James Bond 007 in
Quantum of Solace
Starring
Olga Kurylenko
Mathieu Amalric
Giancarlo Giannini
Gemma Arterton
Anatole Taubman
Jesper Christensen
David Harbour
Rory Kinnear
Tim Pigott-Smith
Joaquín Cosio
with
Jeffrey Wright
and
Judi Dench
as M
Skyfall:
Albert R. Broccoli's
Eon Productions Ltd.
Presents
Daniel Craig
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
Skyfall
Starring
Javier Bardem
Ralph Fiennes
Naomie Harris
Berenice Lim Marlohe
Ben Whishaw
Rory Kinnear
Ola Rapace
with
Albert Finney
and
Judi Dench
as M
SPECTRE:
Albert R. Broccoli's
Eon Productions Ltd.
Presents
Daniel Craig
as
Ian Fleming's
James Bond
007
in
Spectre
Starring
Christoph Waltz
Lea Seydoux
Ben Whishaw
Naomie Harris
Dave Bautista
Andrew Scott
Rory Kinnear
Jesper Christensen
With
Monica Bellucci
and
Ralph Fiennes
as M
An interesting point is that "as James Bond 007" is introduced with Roger Moore's first appearance- Connery didn't ever have that after his name.
- Martine Beswick is credited as "Martin" in From Russia With Love
- Desmond Llewelyn doesn't make it into the opening credits until Thunderball
- Going against tradition, Yaphet Kotto becomes the first actor to play the main villain and receive top billing after the Bond actor, although this is probably because Bond girl Jane Seymour is given an "Introducing" credit
- Despite his most prominent appearance as Q being in LTK, Desmond Llewelyn receives his highest billing in The World Is Not Enough, at 6th.
- Cubby is listed before Saltzman in presenting credits for TMWTGG, their last film together. Usually it was the other way around, he only exception being Goldfinger.