Examples of the Americanisation of Bond Films/Character/Dialogue?

Silhouette Man · November 2015

We all know there was Jimmy Bond in the CBS Climax Mystery Theater 1954 TV production of Casino Royale of course, but what other attempts would you say were made to Americanise James Bond?

Here are a few that I can think of offhand:

Burt Reynolds was considered for the Bond role, as was Adam West for OHMSS.

John Gavin actually signed on to play James Bond for DAF before Sean Connery agreed to return to the role he had made so famous.

I'm sure we can think of many more in the Bond films, character or dialogue or anything else.

If so, I'd really love to hear from you.

-{

Gassy Man · November 2015

Silhouette Man wrote:

We all know there was Jimmy Bond in the CBS Climax Mystery Theater 1954 TV production of Casino Royale of course, but what other attempts would you say were made to Americanise James Bond?

Here are a few that I can think of offhand:

Burt Reynolds was considered for the Bond role, as was Adam West for OHMSS.

John Gavin actually signed on to play James Bond for DAF before Sean Connery agreed to return to the role he had made so famous.

I'm sure we can think of many more in the Bond films, character or dialogue or anything else.

If so, I'd really love to hear from you. -{

You know, it's interesting -- I grew up in a working class town in the American Midwest. Most Americans there did not think much of British men. The stereotype was that they were pasty, finicky, effete, and snobbish (sorry to my friends in the UK -- I don't subscribe to this). But Connery was different. He embodied pretty much the same qualities and attitudes they had. A lot more or less looked like him, too, even though most did not have British heritage. So, to them, Bond was an American. He just talked funny. None of the actors after really made that connection. Reynolds may have been an American, but he has English and Scottish heritage, among others. And he had a lot of Connery's masculinity when he was younger (and took acting more seriously). So, I think he actually could have worked with the right coaching. John Gavin never impressed me much as an actor. Handsome guy, but he didn't have much charisma. I'm not sure about Adam West. He is a very good actor, too. Anyone who doesn't believe this should check out the screen test for Batman, and compare his interpretation -- which nails it -- to Lyle Waggoner's, who though resembling the comic character, perhaps, more physically, is simply bland.

I don't know that I would have wanted James Brolin as Bond. He has some qualities for the part, but it would have been like watching a nighttime soap opera.

As the Bond films wore on, though, I think they began to incorporate more elements that American audiences in particular wanted -- more car chases, more fist fights, more dimwitted women. The reliance on action and erosion of good dialogue and scene also seemed, to me, to be a concession to American ideals. By the early 1970s, the Bond films began to resemble the American spoofs -- Helm, Flint, Man from UNCLE, etc. -- more than they did the films that preceded them.

Although Richard Maibaum obviously contributed much to the Bond films, and there were other American influences in the productions, the wit and style in the Connery films always seemed more British than American to me. But by the Moore era -- and I know he was English -- the jokes were more American: obvious puns and sexual quips.

broadshoulder · November 2015

Gassy Man wrote:

Silhouette Man wrote:

We all know there was Jimmy Bond in the CBS Climax Mystery Theater 1954 TV production of Casino Royale of course, but what other attempts would you say were made to Americanise James Bond?

Here are a few that I can think of offhand:

Burt Reynolds was considered for the Bond role, as was Adam West for OHMSS.

John Gavin actually signed on to play James Bond for DAF before Sean Connery agreed to return to the role he had made so famous.

I'm sure we can think of many more in the Bond films, character or dialogue or anything else.

If so, I'd really love to hear from you. -{

You know, it's interesting -- I grew up in a working class town in the American Midwest. Most Americans there did not think much of British men. The stereotype was that they were pasty, finicky, effete, and snobbish (sorry to my friends in the UK -- I don't subscribe to this). But Connery was different. He embodied pretty much the same qualities and attitudes they had. A lot more or less looked like him, too, even though most did not have British heritage. So, to them, Bond was an American. He just talked funny. None of the actors after really made that connection. s.

You should hear our impressions of Americans. In fact, you should still hear them.

What makes them distinctly British?

The humour

"She should have kept her mouth shut..", "yes, you bloody well would.." (Thunderball)

[Being bathed by Tanaka's women]
Tiger Tanaka: You know what it is about you that fascinates them, don't you? It's the hair on your chest. Japanese men all have beautiful bare skin.
James Bond: Japanese proverb say, "Bird never make nest in bare tree."

Not saying Americans don't have a sense of humour, but it is different to ours..

hehadlotsofguts · November 2015

James Brolin screen tested for the part of Bond for Octopussy when Roger temporarily left the series.

Silhouette Man · December 2015

I think the Connery Bond uses the expression "It's a sinch he's not working alone" when he calls Blofeld in the guise of Bert Saxby. I take that as an Americanism, perhaps this is not surprising given that Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz were the writers!

Matt S · December 2015

"Well go on, go on, it's merely a lift. Or should I say elevator?"

Silhouette Man · December 2015

Matt S wrote:

"Well go on, go on, it's merely a lift. Or should I say elevator?"

At least he was in the right country when he said that!

Matt S · December 2015

Silhouette Man wrote:

Matt S wrote:

"Well go on, go on, it's merely a lift. Or should I say elevator?"

At least he was in the right country when he said that!

It makes sense in the context of being in America, though I'm sure they added it for the American audience as well.

I'm glad they have not said "Tuxedo" for the American audience. I can recall other American words used in Bond films, but I can't recall what they are at this moment.

MilleniumForce · December 2015

Silhouette Man wrote:

Matt S wrote:

"Well go on, go on, it's merely a lift. Or should I say elevator?"

At least he was in the right country when he said that!

Pffft, I'm British, living in the UK, and I say elevator rather than lift!

I think the AVTAK score sounds very American......I know it fits in with the film, just saying.

LTK also feels very American, like the American action films of the time, rather than the British spy feel of the other films.

Matt S · December 2015

MilleniumForce wrote:

I think the AVTAK score sounds very American......I know it fits in with the film, just saying.

LTK also feels very American, like the American action films of the time, rather than the British spy feel of the other films.

How does the AVTAK score sound American? It sounds like classic British Barry to me. Do you think OP and LTK sound American as well?

I agree about LTK. It was made in America with a lot of American actors, so that contributes a lot to the American feel as well.

Silhouette Man · December 2015

MilleniumForce wrote:

Silhouette Man wrote:

Matt S wrote:

"Well go on, go on, it's merely a lift. Or should I say elevator?"

At least he was in the right country when he said that!

Pffft, I'm British, living in the UK, and I say elevator rather than lift!

I think the AVTAK score sounds very American......I know it fits in with the film, just saying.

LTK also feels very American, like the American action films of the time, rather than the British spy feel of the other films.

Yes, well I suppose that by this stage thew two have become somewhat synonymous! I still say lift though.

Number24 · December 2015

Do you remember the scene in TWINE were 007 and Christmas Jones shoot up the lift in the underground scene? Bond introduces himself to her, but he says: "Baaaand, James Baaand" in a very American accent. I find this irritating.

Matt S · December 2015

Number24 wrote:

Do you remember the scene in TWINE were 007 and Christmas Jones shoot up the lift in the underground scene? Bond introduces himself to her, but he says: "Baaaand, James Baaand" in a very American accent. I find this irritating.

The last time you brought this up I listened to that line again and I have no idea what you are hearing.

HatThrowingHenchman · December 2015

he means compare Brosnan's Bond line from GE with the one from TWINE and listen to the difference.

btw: the delivery in TWINE us Brosnan's coolest

Matt S · December 2015

HatThrowingHenchman wrote:

he means compare Brosnan's Bond line from GE with the one from TWINE and listen to the difference.

btw: the delivery in TWINE us Brosnan's coolest

I did that. Brosnan's voice sounds thinner in TWINE. I also think his delivery in TWINE is better. I don't like it in GE.

HatThrowingHenchman · December 2015

could be the stress

I think the one from GE is just as good...

MilleniumForce · December 2015

Everyone says about how they notice Brosnan's delivery of that line after watching the film many times.......I noticed it on the first watch, it is a bit distracting.

Number24 · December 2015

Matt S wrote:

Number24 wrote:

Do you remember the scene in TWINE were 007 and Christmas Jones shoot up the lift in the underground scene? Bond introduces himself to her, but he says: "Baaaand, James Baaand" in a very American accent. I find this irritating.

The last time you brought this up I listened to that line again and I have no idea what you are hearing.

The British Calvin Dyson brings it up in this video. Perhaps it's easier to hear if you're used to hearing mostly British? It's around 11 minutes in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mte9HfYL_I

hehadlotsofguts · December 2015

Number24 wrote:

Matt S wrote:

Number24 wrote:

Do you remember the scene in TWINE were 007 and Christmas Jones shoot up the lift in the underground scene? Bond introduces himself to her, but he says: "Baaaand, James Baaand" in a very American accent. I find this irritating.

The last time you brought this up I listened to that line again and I have no idea what you are hearing.

The British Calvin Dyson brings it up in this video. Perhaps it's easier to hear if you're used to hearing mostly British? It's around 11 minutes in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mte9HfYL_I

I don't think Pierce sounds American at all. His Irish accent comes out in certain scenes and this is one of them.

The scene in the Tiger helicopter when Bond says "i'm here! I'm HEEERE!", reminds me of the "WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE LIVING HEEEERE!" scene from Taffin. It's Pierce's delivery.

cheld · December 2015

The Sinatra gag in Spectre. They could have used the Beatles or Stones. Or Adele.

Matt S · December 2015

cheld wrote:

The Sinatra gag in Spectre. They could have used the Beatles or Stones. Or Adele.

It wouldn't have worked with the Beatles or Stones because we would have expected Bond to keep it on. The public wouldn't buy James Bond having the same opinion of the Beatles now that he did in 1964.

HatThrowingHenchman · December 2015

why?

Matt S · December 2015

HatThrowingHenchman wrote:

why?

Are you asking me? The Beatles are one of the most loved bands by all generations today. Bond is known to have good taste, and I don't think most people would have trust in Bond's taste if he didn't like the Beatles today. In 1964, the Beatles were like One Direction is today. A lot of people like Sinatra as well, but most people can also admit that while his music is great it can also be corny.

HatThrowingHenchman · December 2015

question answered

MilleniumForce · December 2015

But it would have been a nice reference to GF, considering the rest of the film is full of them.

Thunderpussy · December 2015

They could have played the frog chorus. Everyone could understand
Bond switching that off.

The Debonair Bond · December 2015

I don't really agree that Bond turns off Sinatra because he doesn't like it (that would be out of character for him, in my opinion) More because he is trying to figure out a way to get Hinx out of his back and the song doesn't help him

Loeffelholz · December 2015

I enjoyed that bit

zaphod99 · December 2015

Number24 wrote:

Matt S wrote:

Number24 wrote:

Do you remember the scene in TWINE were 007 and Christmas Jones shoot up the lift in the underground scene? Bond introduces himself to her, but he says: "Baaaand, James Baaand" in a very American accent. I find this irritating.

The last time you brought this up I listened to that line again and I have no idea what you are hearing.

The British Calvin Dyson brings it up in this video. Perhaps it's easier to hear if you're used to hearing mostly British? It's around 11 minutes in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mte9HfYL_I

To my ears Pierce tended to say 'Baaand' most of the time. He sounded less English as his tenure progressed.

zaphod99 · December 2015

The Prodigy or Muse may have been amusing.

Silhouette Man · December 2015

This article from the Guardian may be of interest:

http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2015/dec/07/james-bond-spectre-americanisation

Examples of the Americanisation of Bond Films/Character/Dialogue?

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