You're right about your comparisons being lost on me, because I have no idea who Bob Holness and Nicholas Parson are.
Bob Holness is an English actor/TV presenter, best known for presenting a popular TV show called Blockbusters but who has a solid 007 connection in that he played Bond in a radio adaptation of Moonraker in 1957 for South African radio- thus making him the second actor to play James Bond after Barry Nelson.
Nicholas Parsons is also an English actor/presenter usually in the comedy field- he has presented the popular radio show Just A Minute for over 40 years, among many other credits. His only tenuous Bond connection is acting in the little-seen film of Len Deighton's Spy Story in the 70s (Len Deighton being the author of the "Harry Palmer" -yes, I know that's not his name- novels among others, and co-writer with Sean Connery of an early script of what became NSNA - yes I know there's a lot more detail to that story).
The point is that neither of them are in any way menacing or imposing in the way James Bond should be.
(Len Deighton being the author of the "Harry Palmer" -yes, I know that's not his name- novels among others, and co-writer with Sean Connery of an early script of what became NSNA - yes I know there's a lot more detail to that story).
That script was just...I can't even put it into words.
I like the Golan-Globus Bond, Ricardo C. ) AVTAK was made On a small budget. But I disagree that N Parsons isn't menacing If anyone listenes to Just a minute they'll know just how cut throat he can be.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Personally I didn't think AVTAK was RM's worst. That honour went to TMWTGG. In terms of 70's camp it was at the highest end of the scale. Britt Ekland, a professional agent activating a button accidently with her arse? Please! Bond fighting a midget ("you big bully") - urgh! RM and CL were fine, its just everything around them was played for laughs, right up to the 360 degree car jump. Watching it now, you just can't take it seriously. Although Lee's Scaramanga is better than Fleming's version of the character, the book as a whole is much better.
Personally I didn't think AVTAK was RM's worst. That honour went to TMWTGG. In terms of 70's camp it was at the highest end of the scale. Britt Ekland, a professional agent activating a button accidently with her arse? Please! Bond fighting a midget ("you big bully") - urgh! RM and CL were fine, its just everything around them was played for laughs, right up to the 360 degree car jump. Watching it now, you just can't take it seriously. Although Lee's Scaramanga is better than Fleming's version of the character, the book as a whole is much better.
TMWTGG was not much of a film. The plot has no suspense or tension and it lacks the romantic "sweep" of it's locales. However IMO it's Roger Moore's best preformance and his dialogue was pitch perfect. Unlike his later films he didn't just didn't wink at the camera and didn't bother to apperciate any threat at the time. He was an ass hole with a sense of humor who at times did get fusterated when things were going wrong. He knew the deadliest assassin in the world was after him so he wasn't afraid to use some cruel tactics. If Moore acted as he did in GG during his entire Bond tenure, he would be definetly higher on my list of Bond actors. And yes, I loved Nic Nack despite the embarassing fight he and Bond had at the end.
Now was the book better ? Personally, I think both book's plot was about inept as the film's. I really could less about Scarmanga's misdeeds with those thugs; It was all so boring IMO. However I do appericate the fact that Scarmanga was so unstable in the book. You felt that if you said one wrong word to Paco "Pistols" then most likely you'd be decorating the floor with your brains and blood. I think Fleming drew himself into a corner with this character. You can't see him setting up a quiet and clever assissination or being in charge of criminal organization. I think he would have fitted a short story just fine.
Like I said Moore wasn't really the problem. I'm a big fan of Mr Moore's joker Bond even though I know full well its not Ian Fleming. However I have always thought he could "do" serious when he wanted. The scene at the dinner table between Bond and Scaramanga shows this. Its a tense moment between 2 professionals at the top of their game and it works extremely well. Indeed it is the best part of the film.
Despite what a lot of people say there were a few times when Moore played it straight in his films:
-eg. most of FYEO
- Octopussy (interrogating General Orlov and diffusing the nuclear bomb)
-AVTAK - defying Zorin when he is discovered
-TSWLM - admitting it was he who killed Anya's lover
However for the most part he was more of a player, displaying a nudge nudge wink wink style of humour. I remember seeing an interview with Lewis Gilbert saying that the producers were worried about turning Moore's Bond into a Connery clone (slapping women around). Hence they decided to incorporate Moore's wit into the character further. It wasn't Fleming but IMO it was still entertaining.
I think TSWLM was where Moore came into his own however. The cheeky jokes and gags were present but they were more controlled and didn't rule the film unlike Moonraker.
I actually remeber watching MWTGG for the first time. It was AFTER I had seen some of Moore's lighter subsequent films. I remember thinking: "Why is Roger Moore this angry" lol.
Yeah I'm a big fan of A View to a Kill for several reasons. Although obviously I understand why so many people criticise it.
But for the reasons I like it, it has to do with the title which is awesome in my opinion. Christopher Walken is one of my favourite actors and plays Zorin brilliantly. Tanya Roberts is just hot. grace Jones plays a good Henchwoman in this case in May Day, also liked the fact that her and Zorin had a sexual relationship and that she just wasnt employed by him. The musical score is pretty cool too. Overall its a fun show, I try not to take it too seriously as a Bond Film, I just enjoy it and try not to be too over-critical of it yet I cant blame others who do. Its also pretty symbolic in not only is it Moore bowing out finally as Bond but Louis Maxwell bowing out as MoneyPenny also.
I think Grace Jones does more to make this A View To A Kill worth watching than any other actor. They kept Walken on a leash but Jones managed to bring the energy to a very bland movie.
I love the first half of the film, the scenes with Patrick McNee, the technology theme and John Barry's score. The second half of the film, especially the drabness of San Fran, is disapointing. So it's much like the film it's based on - Goldfinger, which had a great begining and sagged in the second half, although the fight with Oddjob helped liven things up in that film. AVTAK has some cheesy moments I could have done without - for example the Beach Boys theme - who in their right mind would want that over the score Barry created for the film...
Comments
Bob Holness is an English actor/TV presenter, best known for presenting a popular TV show called Blockbusters but who has a solid 007 connection in that he played Bond in a radio adaptation of Moonraker in 1957 for South African radio- thus making him the second actor to play James Bond after Barry Nelson.
Nicholas Parsons is also an English actor/presenter usually in the comedy field- he has presented the popular radio show Just A Minute for over 40 years, among many other credits. His only tenuous Bond connection is acting in the little-seen film of Len Deighton's Spy Story in the 70s (Len Deighton being the author of the "Harry Palmer" -yes, I know that's not his name- novels among others, and co-writer with Sean Connery of an early script of what became NSNA - yes I know there's a lot more detail to that story).
The point is that neither of them are in any way menacing or imposing in the way James Bond should be.
That script was just...I can't even put it into words.
Here's Scottish media man Andrew Neil:
And here's Sean Connery with Fatima Blush in Never Say Never Again:
Roger Moore 1927-2017
$30 million dollars is not a small budget, especially 25 years ago. They problem here was a total lack of imaginiation.
No that was 13 million dollars. Anyway regardless of budget, money has nothing to do with creativity.
Not a big deal TP.
TMWTGG was not much of a film. The plot has no suspense or tension and it lacks the romantic "sweep" of it's locales. However IMO it's Roger Moore's best preformance and his dialogue was pitch perfect. Unlike his later films he didn't just didn't wink at the camera and didn't bother to apperciate any threat at the time. He was an ass hole with a sense of humor who at times did get fusterated when things were going wrong. He knew the deadliest assassin in the world was after him so he wasn't afraid to use some cruel tactics. If Moore acted as he did in GG during his entire Bond tenure, he would be definetly higher on my list of Bond actors. And yes, I loved Nic Nack despite the embarassing fight he and Bond had at the end.
Now was the book better ? Personally, I think both book's plot was about inept as the film's. I really could less about Scarmanga's misdeeds with those thugs; It was all so boring IMO. However I do appericate the fact that Scarmanga was so unstable in the book. You felt that if you said one wrong word to Paco "Pistols" then most likely you'd be decorating the floor with your brains and blood. I think Fleming drew himself into a corner with this character. You can't see him setting up a quiet and clever assissination or being in charge of criminal organization. I think he would have fitted a short story just fine.
touche
Despite what a lot of people say there were a few times when Moore played it straight in his films:
-eg. most of FYEO
- Octopussy (interrogating General Orlov and diffusing the nuclear bomb)
-AVTAK - defying Zorin when he is discovered
-TSWLM - admitting it was he who killed Anya's lover
However for the most part he was more of a player, displaying a nudge nudge wink wink style of humour. I remember seeing an interview with Lewis Gilbert saying that the producers were worried about turning Moore's Bond into a Connery clone (slapping women around). Hence they decided to incorporate Moore's wit into the character further. It wasn't Fleming but IMO it was still entertaining.
I think TSWLM was where Moore came into his own however. The cheeky jokes and gags were present but they were more controlled and didn't rule the film unlike Moonraker.
I would refer you to The Wicker Man, but that's a body double of course.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
But for the reasons I like it, it has to do with the title which is awesome in my opinion. Christopher Walken is one of my favourite actors and plays Zorin brilliantly. Tanya Roberts is just hot. grace Jones plays a good Henchwoman in this case in May Day, also liked the fact that her and Zorin had a sexual relationship and that she just wasnt employed by him. The musical score is pretty cool too. Overall its a fun show, I try not to take it too seriously as a Bond Film, I just enjoy it and try not to be too over-critical of it yet I cant blame others who do. Its also pretty symbolic in not only is it Moore bowing out finally as Bond but Louis Maxwell bowing out as MoneyPenny also.
8. TMwtGG 9. AVtaK 10. TSWLM 11. SF 12. LtK 13. TND 14. YOLT
15. NTtD 16. MR 17. LaLD 18. GF 19. SP 20. DN 21. TB
22. TWiNE 23. DAD 24. QoS 25. DaF