Borrowing here, borrowing there... Early Cinema 007 influences

chrisisall · January 2013

Just finished watching Hitchcock's North By Northwest, and it occurs to me that the screenwriter had definitely read a Bond novel or two before writing his story, and similarly, the film-makers of Dr. No had definitely seen North By Northwest before filming their movie. Interesting, the give & take- Terence Young was obviously a Hitchcock fan, ya think?

)

ZorinIndustries · January 2013

FRWL Helicopter scene is a prime example!

Le Samourai · January 2013

Off the top of my head... Connery's intro in DN was inspired by Paul Muni's in 'Juarez.'

chrisisall · January 2013

Really? I guess I need to see it again, haven't in like 30 years...

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Thunderpussy · January 2013

I think most films Borrow ideas from other Movies, The trick is
knowing which Ideas to Borrow.

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chrisisall · January 2013

Thunderpussy wrote:

I think most films Borrow ideas from other Movies, The trick is knowing which Ideas to Borrow. )

That helicopter attack on Bond in FRWL was clearly borrowed from the biplane attack on Thornhill in NBNW, but what interests me more is the genesis of Bond particularly as it applies to Dr. No.
When writing the script for NBNW I imagine some of the more absurd moments of Fleming's works came to mind, as well as spy stuff in general from movies and novels of the fifties, of course. But that chase around Mt. Rushmore was a step past what had been done in cinema up to that point, and I'm betting we have the influence of Bond to thank for that. Conversely, when planning Dr. No it seems clear to me now that a decision to 'lighten' Bond up some (those early novels had little or no humour in Bond's character) was DIRECTLY influenced by the character of Roger Thornhill, who seems to me to basically be Bond without the killer instinct (a lot like Roger Moore's Bond, strangely enough). Terence Young & Co deliberately imbued Connery's Bond with a slightly darker version of the wit that Grant employed with great success...

Ticket Seller: Something wrong with your eyes?
Roger Thornhill: Yes, they're sensitive to questions.

This early decision on the very first film IMO affects to this day the cinematic version of Bond that we see.
So, Bond influences Hitchcock, who in turn influences Bond.
I just never realized it before last night.

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chrisisall · January 2013

I found an interesting article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/13/alfred-hitchcock-north-by-northwest

North By Northwest has been called the first James Bond movie (screenwriter Ernest Lehman called it "the ultimate Hitchcock picture" while he was writing it, but no matter). And the similarities are evident. In 1960 Hitchcock himself briefly considered directing Thunderball. Ian Fleming originally wanted Grant (who was a good friend of Bond producer Cubby Broccoli) to play 007 in Dr No, and North By Northwest surely had a lot to do with that (Grant turned down the part). 1959 was also the year Fleming published Goldfinger, the first truly ridiculous Bond novel (delightful though it is), which, as the third Bond movie, would perfect the NXNW-style template from which the series would barely deviate until the advent of Daniel Craig.

Hmmm, I guess this is old stuff to some of you guys...

Harry Palmer · January 2013

I don't think North By Northwest was influenced by Fleming, to be honest.
Its template and plot-structure had been well established by Hitchcock in earlier films (Young and Innocent, The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps, Saboteur, etc.). The character of Roger O. Thornhill as the accidental spy was also tested in The Lady Vanishes, and the mean, professional version of that appears in Notorious.

chrisisall · January 2013

Harry Palmer wrote:

I don't think North By Northwest was influenced by Fleming, to be honest.
Its template and plot-structure

Not the template or plot structure, the bold absurdity. B-)

Harry Palmer · January 2013

Not sure what you mean by bold absurdity, but if it's got something to do with the humour, then I'd say that's part of the template.

chrisisall · January 2013

Harry Palmer wrote:

Not sure what you mean by bold absurdity

A chase around the faces of Presidents- it goes on right under their noses, if that's not rather absurd (like being attacked by a giant squid or something) I don't know what is.

) The bold part is not stopping to go gee, aren't we doing something amazing, they just DID it.

ChromeJob · January 2013

Don't forget THE 39 STEPS, another "accidental spy" movie, a classic.

Sorry guys, but the idea to have a chase/climax at Mt. Rushmore wasn't inspired by Fleming, but by Hitchcock himself. He had told Ernest Lehman that as one of the few "requirements" for the NxNW script. But there are tons of parallels. In fact,... and I'm sure it's a total coincidence... when Eve and Thornhill are leaving the dining car, Herrmann's music plays one of his trademark, ascending suspense themes (a repeating motif in the movie in fact, but I think this was a variation), simplified, and the first measure or so is exactly what Monty Norman wrote in the song that became the "James Bond Theme." They're common notes, I don't consider it an "a-HA!" case of plagiarism, but still it's kinda spooky. (The last DVD and current BD release, which I heartily recommend, have an isolated music track which I love to just put on sometimes without the TV.)

NxNW, from the scene when Thornhill drives a truck into Chicago(?) after the crop duster murder attempt, certainly has the flavour of Fleming novels. Think of it. Conning Eve in the hotel room, following her to the auction (Property of a Lady, anyone?), the confrontation with Van Damme, the inspired getaway by making a scene and getting arrested, the daring escape from the hospital room, climbing up the outside wall of Van Damme's house, writing the warning in his monogrammed matchbook. Don't know if we'd ever know if Fleming was inspired by the film (I'm sure Broccoli was, wasn't it he who wanted Grant for Bond, but Grant wouldn't sign a multi-picture contract?), or if Lehman and Hitchcock were thinking of the early Bond novels.

The flirtation and innuendo between Eve and Roger has been echoed in only the best Bond films. It's absolutely sparkling dialog. "It's a long night ... and I don't particularly like the book I'm reading ... do you know what I mean?" (sly smile) "Well, now let me think for a moment.... Yes, I think I know exactly what you mean." "... I never make [redubbed as "discuss"] love on an empty stomach." "But you've already eaten." "But YOU haven't...." I'm starving for another Bond film with Bond/heroine dialog on that level.....

I wouldn't be surprised if T. Young was shooting at least for some Cary Grant influences in coaching Connery. Cary Grant had a funny quote that could apply to James Bond, "Every man wishes he were Cary Grant. Even I wish I were Cary Grant."

They don't make men like him any more.

chrisisall · January 2013

Thanks, that was both illuminating and interesting, Chrome!

BIG TAM · January 2013

I once heard somebody on a documentary say the ideal Bond actor needs to be 50% Cary Grant & 50% Jack Palance. Style & sophistication coupled with menace & brutality - a winning combination of acting styles.

Napoleon Plural · January 2013

Well they tried to make the train dialogue in CR like that of Cary and Eva in North by Northwest.

CmdrAtticus · January 2013

They actually had originally thought of including a scene of them hiding
beneath one of the nostrils of one of the faces where Grant was supposed to start sneezing!

ChromeJob · January 2013

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Well they tried to make the train dialogue in CR like that of Cary and Eva in North by Northwest.

They succeeded. One of my favorites in the film. And the interesting dialog between them continued during the casino scenes.

I don't recall anything like that in QoS. One of several things that went missing in that sequel.

HalfMonk HalfHitman · January 2013

There's a moment in the film HITCHCOCK when he's trying to choose his next film when someone says he got another call from the studio asking about doing "the Fleming book." Hitchcock says "I've already made that movie; it was called North By Northwest."

Silhouette Man · February 2013

HalfHitman HalfMonk wrote:

There's a moment in the film HITCHCOCK when he's trying to choose his next film when someone says he got another call from the studio asking about doing "the Fleming book." Hitchcock says "I've already made that movie; it was called North By Northwest."

Thanks for sharing that interesting little tidbit. Nice little knowing nod there.

Napoleon Plural · February 2013

ChromeJob wrote:

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Well they tried to make the train dialogue in CR like that of Cary and Eva in North by Northwest.

They succeeded. One of my favorites in the film.

Yeah, where they succeed in guessing each other's background because of their startling insight and because it's in the script. 8-)

Silhouette Man · February 2013

Napoleon Plural wrote:

ChromeJob wrote:

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Well they tried to make the train dialogue in CR like that of Cary and Eva in North by Northwest.

They succeeded. One of my favorites in the film.

Yeah, where they succeed in guessing each other's background because of their startling insight and because it's in the script. 8-)

I hate "one sympathises"! 8-)

ChromeJob · February 2013

I just watched this scene again (on my new BD), and I still like it. Bond needs to have a charming sense of humor, and the exchange works so well for me.

"How was the lamb?"
"Skewered. One sympathises."

Love it.

chrisisall · February 2013

ChromeJob wrote:

"How was the lamb?"
"Skewered. One sympathises."

Love it.

As a vegetarian I appreciate the line in more ways than one. 8-)

Borrowing here, borrowing there... Early Cinema 007 influences

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