Quick Questions re: John Gavin/American Bonds
Mister Biswas
TokyoPosts: 78MI6 Agent
To all,
Based on the info provided by those great documentaries on the Special Edition DVDs, I know about John Gavin and DAF, that he was actually signed to play Bond before David Picker and co. decided to reel in the big fish Connery.
I also know, however, that, on the LALD documentary, Tom Manciewicz and Guy Hamilton, when recalling the story of the casting of Bond for that film, spoke of the certain casting possibilities before Roger Moore officially signed on. Specifically, Burt Reynolds was mentioned in that DVD documentary. Then, Tom Manciewicz made an interesting comment, and I paraphrase: "Cubby didn't want an American. It would have been like casting an Englishman in a John Wayne part. It just wouldn't have worked."
So, if Tom's recollection of Cubby is correct, then why was John Gavin, who is obviously American, signed in DAF?
What accounts for the comment Tom Manciewicz made in the LALD documentary?
Would John Gavin have played the role with a British accent? (Although I have never read or heard anything about this in any book or documentary, my hunch is that John Gavin would have been the American Bond in an Americanized Bond adventure, much like Barry Nelson).
(NOTE: My apologies to the moderators if this has been the subject of any previous threads.)
Based on the info provided by those great documentaries on the Special Edition DVDs, I know about John Gavin and DAF, that he was actually signed to play Bond before David Picker and co. decided to reel in the big fish Connery.
I also know, however, that, on the LALD documentary, Tom Manciewicz and Guy Hamilton, when recalling the story of the casting of Bond for that film, spoke of the certain casting possibilities before Roger Moore officially signed on. Specifically, Burt Reynolds was mentioned in that DVD documentary. Then, Tom Manciewicz made an interesting comment, and I paraphrase: "Cubby didn't want an American. It would have been like casting an Englishman in a John Wayne part. It just wouldn't have worked."
So, if Tom's recollection of Cubby is correct, then why was John Gavin, who is obviously American, signed in DAF?
What accounts for the comment Tom Manciewicz made in the LALD documentary?
Would John Gavin have played the role with a British accent? (Although I have never read or heard anything about this in any book or documentary, my hunch is that John Gavin would have been the American Bond in an Americanized Bond adventure, much like Barry Nelson).
(NOTE: My apologies to the moderators if this has been the subject of any previous threads.)
Comments
It is my understanding that when John Gavin was tapped for DAF he was to affect a British accent. They'd already had a Scot and an Aussie play him, so why not an American playing a Brit? I've seen John Gavin affect an English accent very plausibly in other roles, I don't think his casting was too much of a stretch. Burt Reynolds, on the other hand...
I'm only thankful it didn't happen, as I'm sure the series would have ended there and then: Gavin is many things, but "charismatic" is not one of them.
@merseytart
Anyway, the documentary on the DAF DVD (from a few years back--I don't know if it's on the most recent DVD) pretty well indicates that Gavin's Bond would indeed have been American. It was the return of Connery that mercifully (and pardon the pun) scotched that idea.
One of my favourite actors, James Garner- I liked his Philip Marlowe very much. Though I don't think James Brolin would have made a good Marlowe...
Edit: Blast, HB beat me in replying.
I wonder if there are any out there who are experts in John Gavin films. Perhaps they would know whether he had a workable British accent or not.
Also, are there any photos/footage of screen tests out there? If he was SIGNED to play Bond, then there must be at least test photos somewhere. B-)
Personally I would rather have had Gavin in DAF than the bored-looking Connery performance we ended up with.
D'oh!
Poor Brolin. First he loses Bond, then he marries Streisand. The guy just doesn't have any luck
@merseytart
Plus his son has gotten an Oscar nomination and the kind of acclaim ol' Dad never got!