This is the first film to make a dramatically interesting use of Gogol... the other being OP. In TSWLM and MR he was more of a symbol than intrinsic to the drama.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
The ending echoes the PTS in being in contrast to the tone of the rest of the film.
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,818MI6 Agent
Final Machine that goes ‘Ping’. Bonds watch.
Janet Brown was an amazing impressionist, she is believable here as ‘That bloddy woman in Downing Street’ as my Gran referred to the late Baroness Thatcher.
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
The ending echoes the PTS in being in contrast to the tone of the rest of the film.
I think it's a mistake
superadoRegent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
This movie and OP inspired me to learn knife throwing. I don’t think a circus will hire me but I can make knives stick on wood half of the time!
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
My quibbles with the music aside, this is a great Bond film.
Colourful characters and (mostly) believable action, and John Glen here makes a promising debut as director (yes, I know about later).
For me, it's the Fleming content that thrilled me on first viewing back in 81. After more than a decade of hunting for small scraps, here were huge chunks of genuine Fleming lifted almost verbatim.
However, the movie belongs to Sir Roger Moore- his Bond dominates every scene and it's him that made this film what it is.
Love the shared laugh between Gogol and Bond. It's a great character moment for both. Professionals acknowledging each other.
Gogol was the villain's sponsor in this movie, which is interesting because in TSWLM and in MR he'd been allied with the British Secret Service against a common enemy. The nature of his involvement in subsequent films was more complex.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
This movie and OP inspired me to learn knife throwing. I don’t think a circus will hire me but I can make knives stick on wood half of the time!
Impressive. I remember a game we had in the army. Two guys stood facingeach other a few yards apart. Both had their feet about a shoe's lenght apoart. they threw the bayonet in the ground between the other fellow's feet. If you hit the other guy had to stand with his feet even further apart, if you missed you had to do it. The first to fall over is the loser.
This movie and OP inspired me to learn knife throwing. I don’t think a circus will hire me but I can make knives stick on wood half of the time!
Impressive. I remember a game we had in the army. Two guys stood facingeach other a few yards apart. Both had their feet about a shoe's lenght apoart. they threw the bayonet in the ground between the other fellow's feet. If you hit the other guy had to stand with his feet even further apart, if you missed you had to do it. The first to fall over is the loser.
I probably would have tried that game when I was younger!
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,818MI6 Agent
FYEO.....
I said in TWINE that film was the defining point of Mr Brosnan’s Bond films.
FYEO sets the same standards for Sir Roger.
A lot of the Fleming stories have the shadow of WWII or the escalating Cold War hanging over them, and using the A.T.A.C. as the ticking machine that goes ping is the perfect maguffin to escalate and focus that tension as a so,I’d 1980s thingamajic. The mass armies of Stromberg and Drax have been dumped for a tense drama, and the madcap humour and silly aspects are left out. Wit drives most of the comedy here.
The guest cast are all top notch players, but I agree that Kristatos suffers from downplay direction. PeHaps Glenn was conscious of the cliches of mad world dominating Bond baddies, and that’s why Blofeld goes down the lum, while Kristatos is more aloof and dismissive. He is selling out to the highest bidder, so in some ways is set up as a middle man character.
Normally when Bond has too many allies it can feel cluttered, but having Melinda, Colombo and their various teams helping out works, and Lusl and Luigi are likeable and memorable even though they are destined for the chop.
Bernard Lee had done a sterling job playing Admiral M Messery and it was correct the producers did not bring in a new M immediately, instead acknowledging the shadow left behind M’s desk.
James Villiers is ok as ‘Chief Of Staff’ but he feels too stuffy and lightweight to be Tanner.
When dressing down Bond he sounds like a headmaster, than a senior figure in MI6.
One of my fav lines
“Your orders were to interrogate Gonzales... not let Miss Havelock perforate him!” But it doesn’t work. It lacks the ahem penetration of the put down, and Bond brushes it off. It makes Sir Freddie’s reaction seem slightly over the edge.
This slight skewing is more than made up for by everything else clocking nicely into place, and Bond feels dangerous in places... The battles with the bikers, killing Locke and Apositous, fast, vengeful, unremitting. Sir Roger borders, slightly on Sir Sean territory, but in his own way.
The best part is the ending though. The destruction of the A.T.A.C is still shocking, but makes sense. It also creates a sense of what might come in future films, and did.
RIP Sir Roger. You were never just ‘the other guy’ long after you stopped playing Bond yourself, you championed the cause, and your successors. On film, in literature, and in person (from all who have spoken of you) You were a gent, and entertainer and I am grateful that your version of Bond was part of my childhood, along with Mark Hammil’s young Luke Skywalker and David Hasslehoff as Michael Knight.
James Bond will Return? He never left. -{
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
I don't think FYEO set the standard at all for Moore. In my opinion it was the odd one out among his Bond movies. It's one of his best IMO, just below TSWLM.
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,818MI6 Agent
I had to once realize how good it is!
The movie is now 39 years old and it‘s a proper spy plot with beautiful but not exotic locations.
Moore‘s acting is top notch!
Since LALD he owns the role - you never really wish Connery returning back in any of them and he plays with such a wit and confidence like he never can do anything wrong!
Highlights for me are the skichase, the climbing scenes and the beach house sequence.
I‘ve had my soundsystem on yesterday and am still blown away by Conti‘s score.
Yes, there are some short disco and funk elements present but most of the tunes are orchestral and epic - grave and with a stunning range of variety!
I‘ll watch it again tonight!
Thank you very much to everyone for joining with these watchalong - it was an absolute pleasure doing this and to read all your comments.
I can only speak for myself, but for me, from every single one I‘ve learnt something new and it was never a waste of time!
I was looking forward to every viewing and always felt better after we‘ve done it - well - with 2 exceptions
Thanks again!
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Well said, Higgins, and thanks again for coming up with the idea. It's been a blast, and has certainly made the lockdown much easier to bear.
It has been a pure pleasure chatting away (sometimes literally) with everyone here, I think all of us have learned info and insights we hadn't previously known, and perhaps most importantly we've all gotten to know each other better.
I had a great time last night and I've enjoyed myself a lot during all the live commentaries here in AJB. Thank you to Higgins for making it possible -{
But a couple of comments about Higgins' comments about FYEO:
You say the locations are beautiful, but not exotic. What's exotic depends on what you're used to. I've never been to Piz Gloria in Switzerland. If I go there I'd love it, but I suspect I wouldn't find it very exotic because mountains, glaciers and cable cars are not that unusual here. But St. Cyril's and Cofru is very exotic to me and I think they look lovely.
Thanks again to golrush007 for making them perfect {[]
I enjoyed listening to your podcast, guys. An actual conversation has time to breathe and to range wide - so that expands well on the live commentary posts which, in the nature of the beast, have to be pointed and pithy.
One thing I'd add on the casting is that, when Roger Moore was holding out on FYEO, I think they were looking very closely at Michael Billington - a Brit actor who'd played Barsov, Anya's doomed boyfriend in the TSWLM PTS, and who had been a regular in Gerry Anderson's TV series 'UFO'. Billington certainly looked the part - more so than Michael Jayston - but I doubt he'd have had the necessary range. I thought James Brolin's screen tests had been later, for OP, when Moore was again playing hard-to-get.
I know we're not quite done yet with the viewings, but this seems an apt moment to add, as well, that it's been a pleasure joining in with them; a strange context for watching all the movies again but a way of brightening lockdown and definitely a memorable James Bond experience!
Umm, are there any gifs zooming on Carole Bouquet's... eyes?
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
But a couple of comments about Higgins' comments about FYEO:
You say the locations are beautiful, but not exotic. What's exotic depends on what you're used to. I've never been to Piz Gloria in Switzerland. If I go there I'd love it, but I suspect I wouldn't find it very exotic because mountains, glaciers and cable cars are not that unusual here. But St. Cyril's and Cofru is very exotic to me and I think they look lovely.
I may have phrased it badly....
As discussed in the podcast, FYEO was to bring Bond back down to earth.
Which means no rockets, no expansive sets, no larger than life villain, no gadgets and so on.
Insofar limiting themselfs to locations not so far away was a wise choice ( and along the novel and the greek smugglers plot)
So my comment about the lack of exotic locations was in the sense like mentioning the lack of gadgets and spaceships - without any judgement.
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Yes, you're right. Brolin was tested for OP, not FYEO. No alcohol was harmed in the making of that podcast. (Hic!)
I think, that latest after MR it became a ritual between Moore and Cubby negotiating the terms of the deal for the next Bond movie.
I‘d say, that Cubby was very aware that Moore was his goose with the golden egg and brought him a sh*tload of money with every new movie that came out, and the casting of alternative actors was just to show Moore that he was not totally defenseless.
If I know correctly, Cubby would have even continued with Moore after AVTAK if he‘d said yes. I seem to recall that he asked Moore if he‘d continue.
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Comments
I'm pretty sure that Jill Bennett was an old pal of Moore's, and had guested in either The Saint or The Persuaders.
Janet Brown was an amazing impressionist, she is believable here as ‘That bloddy woman in Downing Street’ as my Gran referred to the late Baroness Thatcher.
I think it's a mistake
At the premiere Charles and Diana may have been amused by the Thatcher stuff... she irked the royals by seeing herself as royal as they were.
Colourful characters and (mostly) believable action, and John Glen here makes a promising debut as director (yes, I know about later).
For me, it's the Fleming content that thrilled me on first viewing back in 81. After more than a decade of hunting for small scraps, here were huge chunks of genuine Fleming lifted almost verbatim.
However, the movie belongs to Sir Roger Moore- his Bond dominates every scene and it's him that made this film what it is.
Count your blessings.
Gogol was the villain's sponsor in this movie, which is interesting because in TSWLM and in MR he'd been allied with the British Secret Service against a common enemy. The nature of his involvement in subsequent films was more complex.
Impressive. I remember a game we had in the army. Two guys stood facingeach other a few yards apart. Both had their feet about a shoe's lenght apoart. they threw the bayonet in the ground between the other fellow's feet. If you hit the other guy had to stand with his feet even further apart, if you missed you had to do it. The first to fall over is the loser.
She did love spies and special forces though ....
(I missed the DN and OHMSS viewings so will probably re-watch those two anyway in the coming week and read the commentary threads.)
I probably would have tried that game when I was younger!
I said in TWINE that film was the defining point of Mr Brosnan’s Bond films.
FYEO sets the same standards for Sir Roger.
A lot of the Fleming stories have the shadow of WWII or the escalating Cold War hanging over them, and using the A.T.A.C. as the ticking machine that goes ping is the perfect maguffin to escalate and focus that tension as a so,I’d 1980s thingamajic. The mass armies of Stromberg and Drax have been dumped for a tense drama, and the madcap humour and silly aspects are left out. Wit drives most of the comedy here.
The guest cast are all top notch players, but I agree that Kristatos suffers from downplay direction. PeHaps Glenn was conscious of the cliches of mad world dominating Bond baddies, and that’s why Blofeld goes down the lum, while Kristatos is more aloof and dismissive. He is selling out to the highest bidder, so in some ways is set up as a middle man character.
Normally when Bond has too many allies it can feel cluttered, but having Melinda, Colombo and their various teams helping out works, and Lusl and Luigi are likeable and memorable even though they are destined for the chop.
Bernard Lee had done a sterling job playing Admiral M Messery and it was correct the producers did not bring in a new M immediately, instead acknowledging the shadow left behind M’s desk.
James Villiers is ok as ‘Chief Of Staff’ but he feels too stuffy and lightweight to be Tanner.
When dressing down Bond he sounds like a headmaster, than a senior figure in MI6.
One of my fav lines
“Your orders were to interrogate Gonzales... not let Miss Havelock perforate him!” But it doesn’t work. It lacks the ahem penetration of the put down, and Bond brushes it off. It makes Sir Freddie’s reaction seem slightly over the edge.
This slight skewing is more than made up for by everything else clocking nicely into place, and Bond feels dangerous in places... The battles with the bikers, killing Locke and Apositous, fast, vengeful, unremitting. Sir Roger borders, slightly on Sir Sean territory, but in his own way.
The best part is the ending though. The destruction of the A.T.A.C is still shocking, but makes sense. It also creates a sense of what might come in future films, and did.
RIP Sir Roger. You were never just ‘the other guy’ long after you stopped playing Bond yourself, you championed the cause, and your successors. On film, in literature, and in person (from all who have spoken of you) You were a gent, and entertainer and I am grateful that your version of Bond was part of my childhood, along with Mark Hammil’s young Luke Skywalker and David Hasslehoff as Michael Knight.
James Bond will Return? He never left. -{
Spoken like a true Bristolian, Cardiff soul, or Proud Scot. We are both the latter. {[]
Will post the link when it‘s ready.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I had to once realize how good it is!
The movie is now 39 years old and it‘s a proper spy plot with beautiful but not exotic locations.
Moore‘s acting is top notch!
Since LALD he owns the role - you never really wish Connery returning back in any of them and he plays with such a wit and confidence like he never can do anything wrong!
Highlights for me are the skichase, the climbing scenes and the beach house sequence.
I‘ve had my soundsystem on yesterday and am still blown away by Conti‘s score.
Yes, there are some short disco and funk elements present but most of the tunes are orchestral and epic - grave and with a stunning range of variety!
I‘ll watch it again tonight!
Thank you very much to everyone for joining with these watchalong - it was an absolute pleasure doing this and to read all your comments.
I can only speak for myself, but for me, from every single one I‘ve learnt something new and it was never a waste of time!
I was looking forward to every viewing and always felt better after we‘ve done it - well - with 2 exceptions
Thanks again!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
It has been a pure pleasure chatting away (sometimes literally) with everyone here, I think all of us have learned info and insights we hadn't previously known, and perhaps most importantly we've all gotten to know each other better.
https://we.tl/t-WxGaK4AbKH
Thanks again to golrush007 for making them perfect {[]
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
But a couple of comments about Higgins' comments about FYEO:
You say the locations are beautiful, but not exotic. What's exotic depends on what you're used to. I've never been to Piz Gloria in Switzerland. If I go there I'd love it, but I suspect I wouldn't find it very exotic because mountains, glaciers and cable cars are not that unusual here. But St. Cyril's and Cofru is very exotic to me and I think they look lovely.
I enjoyed listening to your podcast, guys. An actual conversation has time to breathe and to range wide - so that expands well on the live commentary posts which, in the nature of the beast, have to be pointed and pithy.
One thing I'd add on the casting is that, when Roger Moore was holding out on FYEO, I think they were looking very closely at Michael Billington - a Brit actor who'd played Barsov, Anya's doomed boyfriend in the TSWLM PTS, and who had been a regular in Gerry Anderson's TV series 'UFO'. Billington certainly looked the part - more so than Michael Jayston - but I doubt he'd have had the necessary range. I thought James Brolin's screen tests had been later, for OP, when Moore was again playing hard-to-get.
I know we're not quite done yet with the viewings, but this seems an apt moment to add, as well, that it's been a pleasure joining in with them; a strange context for watching all the movies again but a way of brightening lockdown and definitely a memorable James Bond experience!
Umm, are there any gifs zooming on Carole Bouquet's... eyes?
I may have phrased it badly....
As discussed in the podcast, FYEO was to bring Bond back down to earth.
Which means no rockets, no expansive sets, no larger than life villain, no gadgets and so on.
Insofar limiting themselfs to locations not so far away was a wise choice ( and along the novel and the greek smugglers plot)
So my comment about the lack of exotic locations was in the sense like mentioning the lack of gadgets and spaceships - without any judgement.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
I think, that latest after MR it became a ritual between Moore and Cubby negotiating the terms of the deal for the next Bond movie.
I‘d say, that Cubby was very aware that Moore was his goose with the golden egg and brought him a sh*tload of money with every new movie that came out, and the casting of alternative actors was just to show Moore that he was not totally defenseless.
If I know correctly, Cubby would have even continued with Moore after AVTAK if he‘d said yes. I seem to recall that he asked Moore if he‘d continue.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!